Medicus, Vol. 25 No. 1 Pneumonije, 2016.
Review article
Imaging Pneumonia
Ivica Mažuranić
Abstract
Radiography of the thorax is essential for detecting and treating pneumonia, and it always begins with traditional chest x-rays, which either confirm pneumonia or rule it out. Although computed tomography (CT) is not recommended for the initial evaluation of patients with pneumonia, it is an important addition to inconclusive conventional images. Radiological findings should always be interpreted in full correlation with the data from medical history, physical examination, laboratory and microbiological treatment. The combination of characteristic radiological samples and clinical data allows a proper treatment of inflammatory lung diseases. High resolution computed tomography (HRCT) has higher sensitivity to radiological confirmation of the working diagnosis of pneumonia. Specific advantages of HRCT compared to chest x-rays are more precise evaluation of the interstitial lung disease, and the verification of pleural effusion and lymphadenopathy. For most patients chest x-ray is sufficient for confirming the clinical suspicion of pneumonia.
Keywords
pneumonia; chest x-rays; high resolution computed tomography (HRCT)
Hrčak ID:
161761
URI
Publication date:
13.7.2016.
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