Pulmonary nodules and pneumonia. A diagnostic guideline

Background: Chest X-ray is one of the most frequent examinations in radiology and its interpretation is considered part of the basic knowledge of every radiologist. Objectives: The purpose of this article is to recognize common signs and patterns of pneumonias and pseudonodules in chest X-rays and to provide a diagnostic guideline for young radiologists. Materials andmethods: Recent studies and data are analyzed and an overview of the most common signs and patterns in chest X-ray is provided. Results: Knowledge about common signs and patterns in chest X-ray is helpful in the diagnosis of pneumonias and can be indicative for the cause of an infection. However, those signs are often unspecific and should, therefore, be set in clinical content. Computed tomography is becoming increasingly important in the primary diagnosis of pulmonary lesions because of its much higher sensitivity. Conclusion: Chest X-ray is still the first-line modality in the diagnosis of pneumonia and pulmonary nodules; however, radiologists should be aware of its limitations.