Imaging Approach to Acute Lung Diseases

Acute lung diseases pose a challenge both for clinicians and radiologists due to their varied causes, similar clinical presentations, overlapping imaging findings, and occasional occurrence of simultaneous pulmonary processes. Evaluation relies heavily on reconciliation of the patient's symptoms with their laboratory and imaging data and consideration of broad disease categories, including pulmonary edema, infection, and noninfectious inflammatory diseases. In the appropriate clinical context, specific imaging features can suggest a unifying diagnosis or prompt further evaluation. This article reviews the clinical evaluation of patients who present with acute lung diseases, the role of imaging in these patients, and the imaging appearances of acute lung diseases, with an emphasis on key distinguishing features.