In near-drowning injuries, what does chest radiography typically show?

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Multiple Choice

In near-drowning injuries, what does chest radiography typically show?

Near-drowning injuries often cause acute lung injury from aspirated water and inflammation, leading to a pulmonary edema pattern on chest radiographs. The typical appearance is fluffy, diffuse interstitial and air-space opacities that are usually bilateral and may be perihilar or basilar. This reflects alveolar flooding and increased capillary permeability from surfactant disruption and inflammatory response after aspiration. While chest radiographs can occasionally be normal early on, the classic and most characteristic finding is this edema-type infiltrate. Other options like a solitary pneumothorax, a large pleural effusion alone, or a normal image are less representative of the common radiographic presentation in near-drowning injuries.

Near-drowning injuries often cause acute lung injury from aspirated water and inflammation, leading to a pulmonary edema pattern on chest radiographs. The typical appearance is fluffy, diffuse interstitial and air-space opacities that are usually bilateral and may be perihilar or basilar. This reflects alveolar flooding and increased capillary permeability from surfactant disruption and inflammatory response after aspiration. While chest radiographs can occasionally be normal early on, the classic and most characteristic finding is this edema-type infiltrate. Other options like a solitary pneumothorax, a large pleural effusion alone, or a normal image are less representative of the common radiographic presentation in near-drowning injuries.

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