radiological features of cystic fibrosis

Last reviewed 01/2018

The chest radiograph:

  • may be normal in the early stages of the disease
  • as the disease progresses, bilateral, irregular, fine, blotchy shadowing appears in the middle and upper zones
  • more advanced disease yields the radiological features of bronchiectasis, with:
    • thickened bronchial walls
    • cystic shadows with fluid levels