Chest X Ray Kerley B Lines <Instant Download>

On a chest radiograph, Kerley B lines have distinct characteristics that differentiate them from normal lung structures:

To understand the significance of Kerley B lines, one must first visualize the normal anatomy of the lung. The lung is composed of air sacs (alveoli) surrounded by a delicate framework of tissue known as the interstitium. This interstitial space contains connective tissue and lymphatic vessels, which typically function to drain excess fluid away from the alveoli to the hilar lymph nodes. On a healthy chest X-ray, this interstitial network is not visible; the lungs appear radiolucent (dark) due to the presence of air. However, when pathological processes alter the pressure gradients or the integrity of these tissues, the interstitium becomes visible. Kerley B lines arise specifically from the thickening of the interlobular septa—the connective tissue walls that separate the secondary lobules of the lung. chest x ray kerley b lines