Short, fine lines that create a "patchy" or "honeycomb" look, typically located in the lower lobes. The Anatomy Behind the Lines
Kerley C lines occur when the lymphatic vessels within the lung tissue become engorged or when the connective tissue itself becomes scarred or fluid-filled. Because these lines are actually Kerley B lines seen "end-on" or in a random distribution across the lung's surface, they lack the neat, horizontal orientation of B lines. Primary Causes of Kerley C Lines kerley c lines
| Category | Specific Conditions | |----------|----------------------| | | Congestive heart failure (most common), mitral stenosis, cardiomyopathy | | Non-cardiogenic edema | ARDS, fluid overload, high-altitude pulmonary edema | | Interstitial lung disease | Lymphangitic carcinomatosis (breast, lung, stomach, prostate cancers), pulmonary fibrosis (early or mild), interstitial pneumonia | | Infectious | Viral pneumonia (less common) | Short, fine lines that create a "patchy" or
Occupational lung diseases caused by inhaling dust (like silica or asbestos) can lead to interstitial changes. Diagnostic Significance Primary Causes of Kerley C Lines | Category
In modern medicine, the "gold standard" for viewing the interstitium has shifted toward . On a standard X-ray, Kerley C lines can be quite faint and are easily obscured by breast tissue, the diaphragm, or other structures.
Kerley C lines are short, fine, spider-web-like opacities seen on a chest X-ray. Unlike their counterparts, they do not have a linear or directed appearance. Instead, they appear as a of thin lines crisscrossing the lung base.