radiological appearance of staphylococcal pneumonia
Last reviewed 01/2018
The chest radiograph often appears cavitated. Infection starts in the bronchi, causing areas of patchy consolidation in one or more lobes. These break down to form multiple thin walled abscesses - pneumatocoeles - which appear as cysts.
Concomitant pathologies such as a pneumothorax, pleural effusion or empyema may be seen depending on the precise aetiology of the disease.