EVALUATING THE CHEST RADIOGRAPH FOR TECHNICAL ADEQUACY
CONSOLIDATION
Consolidation refers to a pulmonary opacity obscuring the underlying vessels and airway walls with or without air bronchogram [1, 2]. Its borders are ill defined unless it abuts a fissure when well defined borders are seen .
Chest radiograph is definitely the primary imaging modality for evaluation of the thorax. Despite the advent of CT, its low cost, easy availability and much lower radiation exposures make the test ideal modality for initial evaluation and follow-up of thoracic pathologies.
A systematic approach to characterization of the abnormality using standard terminology, its appropriate localization in combination with the clinical scenario can help us arrive at a reasonable differential diagnosis or even definitive diagnosis. *
. Some specific imaging pointers can help in suggesting the etiology of the consolidation
Superintendent, ICH.