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Dr. Andrew Rynne
MD
Dr. Andrew Rynne

Family Physician

Exp 50 years

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What Does Patchy Infiltrate At Left Lung Consistent With Atelectasis Mean?

My husband 65 y.o. had a chest x-ray which showed a small area of patchy infiltrate seen at the left lung base consistent with atelectasis or possibly pneumonia. The impression was small left basilar infiltrate. Can you explain what atelectasis means?? Thanks.
Wed, 10 Jun 2015
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Radiologist,  's  Response
Hello, thanks for posting your query on HCM.
Atelectasis is used to describe an area of partial collapse or incomplete expansion of part of the lung.There is reduced or loss of air-exchange in that area.
In your husbands case, there is a lung infiltrate- possibly due to pneumonia. This means there is plugging of the small airways by the infection (pus/mucus) resulting in the atelectasis - no air can go to the lung parenchyma.

Do not worry, if the area involved is small, it will resolve once he is given medication for the infection. A follow-up Xray maybe done to assess disease progression or resolution.
Hope I have answered your question. Do write in if you have any doubts.
Take care.
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What Does Patchy Infiltrate At Left Lung Consistent With Atelectasis Mean?

Hello, thanks for posting your query on HCM. Atelectasis is used to describe an area of partial collapse or incomplete expansion of part of the lung.There is reduced or loss of air-exchange in that area. In your husbands case, there is a lung infiltrate- possibly due to pneumonia. This means there is plugging of the small airways by the infection (pus/mucus) resulting in the atelectasis - no air can go to the lung parenchyma. Do not worry, if the area involved is small, it will resolve once he is given medication for the infection. A follow-up Xray maybe done to assess disease progression or resolution. Hope I have answered your question. Do write in if you have any doubts. Take care.