Final answer:
Westermark's sign and Hampton's Hump are radiographic signs associated with pulmonary embolism, a potentially life-threatening condition. Westermark's sign indicates reduced blood flow, while Hampton's Hump suggests lung infarction. Accurate diagnosis requires a combination of these signs with other diagnostic tests.
Step-by-step explanation:
Westermark's sign and Hampton's Hump are radiographic findings often associated with pulmonary embolism, a clot that can block the blood supply to the lungs. Westermark's sign refers to an area of the lung that appears to be darker on an X-ray, indicating that there is a lack of blood flow to that region, possibly due to a blockage. Hampton's Hump, on the other hand, is a wedge-shaped opacity at the periphery of the lung field, typically pointing towards the pleura, and it represents hemorrhage and infarction due to a pulmonary embolism.
The diagnosis of a pulmonary embolism is critical as it can be a life-threatening condition, and these radiographic signs, along with other clinical factors, can help in the timely identification and treatment. It is worth noting that while these signs can suggest the presence of a pulmonary embolism, they are not always present and can sometimes be seen in different conditions. A high index of clinical suspicion, combined with radiographic imaging and other diagnostic tests such as D-dimer levels, CT pulmonary angiography, or ventilation-perfusion (V/Q) scanning, is necessary for accurate diagnosis.