Air bronchogram
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An air bronchogram is an air-filled bronchus against surrounding opacified alveoli. It is indicative of an airspace process, and will not be seen when a bronchus is filled with fluid or when the opacification of the alveoli is due to obstruction (as air is resorbed).
Air bronchograms can be seen in
- Lung consolidation
- Pulmonary edema
- Nonobstructive atelectasis
- Severe interstitial disease
- Neoplasm: Bronchioloalveolar carcinoma spreads through the bronchi without destroying the underlying architecture. This leaves air-containing bronchi throughout the tumor. Air bronchograms that persist for weeks despite antibiotic therapy, must raise suspicion for neoplasm.
- Normal expiration