Roentgehological Evaluation of the Loss of Pulmonary Vascular Defnitions for the Early Detection of Intefstitial pulmonary Edema and Other Interstitial Pulmonary Diseases

Accumulation of fluid was done in the peri-vascular interstitium of dogs by abundant and rapid saline infusion, and chest roentgenograms and tomograms were taken and the lung was examined histologically. Post-infusion roentgenograms characteristically demonstrated a blurred outline of vascular shadows without observable abnormal densities instead of the sharp outline which appeared in the pre-infusion roentgenograms. This finding may contribute to the early detection of interstitial pulmonary edema because it preceded the Kerley lines and abnormal densities in the lung field. This peri-vascular interstitial condition may be roentgenologically substituted for other kinds of lesions. Thus the loss of vascular definition may lead to the early diagnosis of certain interstitial pulmonary diseases