Unilateral Pulmonary Edema after Pneumothorax

Abstract

THE typical "batwing" or "butterfly" pattern of pulmonary edema1 2 3 is well known. The relative symmetry of perihilar and basal infiltrates in both lungs is indeed an indicator often used by the radiologist to favor a diagnosis of pulmonary edema as opposed to other possible differential diagnoses (aspiration pneumonia, bacterial pneumonia, etc.). Although it is known that pulmonary edema can sometimes be predominantly unilateral as a result of many possible factors (patient positioning,4 congenital heart disease,5 pre-existing unilateral lung disease,6 etc.), gross asymmetry of involvement in acute pulmonary edema is relatively uncommon. Ipsilateral pulmonary edema has been noted rarely after rapid . . .