Which radiographic finding is typical of bronchiolitis on chest imaging?

Which radiographic finding is typical of bronchiolitis on chest imaging?

• A. Cardiomegaly
• B. Pleural effusion
• C. Lobar consolidation
• D. Hyperinflation with air trapping and peribronchial thickening

Answer: (D)

Bronchiolitis mainly affects the small airways, causing inflammation and obstruction that trap air during expiration. This leads to hyperinflated lungs with air trapping and visible thickening around the bronchioles, known as peribronchial thickening, on chest imaging. Those features are classic for bronchiolitis, reflecting the diffuse small-airway involvement. In contrast, cardiomegaly would point to heart problems, pleural effusion to fluid accumulation, and lobar consolidation to a focal bacterial pneumonia, none of which are typical for uncomplicated bronchiolitis.

Bronchiolitis mainly affects the small airways, causing inflammation and obstruction that trap air during expiration. This leads to hyperinflated lungs with air trapping and visible thickening around the bronchioles, known as peribronchial thickening, on chest imaging. Those features are classic for bronchiolitis, reflecting the diffuse small-airway involvement. In contrast, cardiomegaly would point to heart problems, pleural effusion to fluid accumulation, and lobar consolidation to a focal bacterial pneumonia, none of which are typical for uncomplicated bronchiolitis.