Kerley B Lines On Cxr __exclusive__ Online

| Condition | Context | |-----------|---------| | | Most common cause. Look also for cardiomegaly, pleural effusions, and vascular redistribution. | | Lymphangitic carcinomatosis | Often unilateral or asymmetric; caused by metastatic tumor spread along lymphatics (e.g., breast, lung, stomach cancers). | | Interstitial lung disease | Sarcoidosis, asbestosis, or idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis (though these usually present with more reticular changes). | | Pneumonia (viral/atypical) | Can cause transient septal thickening, usually with other parenchymal findings. | | Renal failure/fluid overload | May present with interstitial edema without primary heart disease. |

The "lines" are actually the radiographic representation of —the connective tissue planes that separate secondary lung lobules. In a healthy lung, these septa are too thin to be visible on X-ray. They become visible only when they are thickened by: Fluid: Edema from heart failure or renal insufficiency. Cells: Infiltration by malignant cells (cancer).