Final answer:
Pulmonary edema involves excess fluid in the lung's air sacs due to heart or kidney failure, and on a chest X-ray, it presents as bilateral pulmonary infiltrates, a 'bat's wing' pattern, or 'Kerley B lines' indicating fluid accumulation.
Step-by-step explanation:
Pulmonary edema is a condition characterized by excess fluid in the air sacs of the lungs, commonly resulting from heart or kidney failure. This fluid accumulation impairs gas exchange, leading to symptoms like difficulty breathing and chest pain. Immediate medical attention is crucial for anyone exhibiting these symptoms due to the life-threatening nature of the condition.
On a chest X-ray, pulmonary edema is typically characterized by findings such as bilateral pulmonary infiltrates, which appear as white areas on the normally black background of the lung fields. These infiltrates indicate fluid accumulation within the lung tissue. Increased pressure within the pulmonary capillaries due to left ventricular failure can lead to this leakage of fluid.
Other associated findings on chest X-ray may include the presence of a "bat's wing" pattern or "Kerley B lines," which are horizontal lines indicating interstitial edema. Pleural effusions, the accumulation of fluid in the pleural cavity, may also be evident as blunted costophrenic angles.