Intubated neonate.
Hyperlucent right hemithorax with multiple interstitial bubble-like lucencies that radiate from the hila. Radiating bands of increased density represent blood vessels surrounded by interstitial gas and compressed interstitium.
Features are of pulmonary interstitial emphysema in a preterm neonate who has probably got RDS.
Case Discussion
There are radiating bubble-like lucencies from the hilum of both lungs, greater on the right. Features here are of pulmonary interstitial emphysema which has occurred secondary to over-ventilation.
Oftentimes, the clinical teams simply adjust ventilatory pressures and watch as the chest radiograph findings resolve.
These images are from Dr. Paula Brill's excellent pediatric radiology collection. Dr. Brill is a professor in the department of radiology (pediatric section) at Weill Cornell. This case was donated to Radiopaedia.org by Radswiki.net