Which radiographic finding may be seen with meconium aspiration?

Which radiographic finding may be seen with meconium aspiration?

• A. Ground-glass opacities
• B. Hyperinflation on x-ray
• C. Patch densities on x-ray
• D. Pleural effusion

Answer: (C)

Meconium in the airways causes obstruction and inflammation that produce patchy air-space disease on the neonatal chest radiograph. Those patchy densities reflect areas of focal consolidation and atelectasis from meconium plugging, often seen in the perihilar and lower lung zones. Hyperinflation can accompany due to air trapping, but the defining radiographic feature is these patchy densities. Pleural effusions are less typical with meconium aspiration, and ground-glass opacities are less specific, often pointing to other diffuse neonatal lung conditions.

Meconium in the airways causes obstruction and inflammation that produce patchy air-space disease on the neonatal chest radiograph. Those patchy densities reflect areas of focal consolidation and atelectasis from meconium plugging, often seen in the perihilar and lower lung zones. Hyperinflation can accompany due to air trapping, but the defining radiographic feature is these patchy densities. Pleural effusions are less typical with meconium aspiration, and ground-glass opacities are less specific, often pointing to other diffuse neonatal lung conditions.