This may describe a regional pattern or a diffuse pattern throughout the lungs. Chest radiographs show nonspecific bilateral reticular, reticulonodular, or alveolar opacities that may be distributed diffusely or have a lower lung predominance [103]. Reticulonodular opacities are a radiographic finding that typically indicates the presence of interstitial lung disease, requiring a thorough clinical evaluation and additional diagnostic testing to determine the specific cause and guide treatment. They are caused by a buildup of fluid in the lungs Rnos can be benign (harmless) or malignant (cancerous) Benign rnos are often seen in people with chronic lung disease, such as emphysema.
There are 3 major patterns of pulmonary opacity The chest radiograph revealed a diffuse, coarse reticulonodular pattern with no zonal predominance and short kerley b lines at the periphery of the mid and lower zones of the left lung (fig 1) The wbc count was 9.4×10 9 /l with neutrophilia. This document contains 29 figures showing chest radiographs demonstrating various diffuse reticular or reticulonodular patterns in the lungs These patterns represent interstitial lung diseases that involve diffuse thickening and fibrosis of the lung interstitium. Learn how to approach interstitial opacities when they present in a reticular or septal pattern
