Kerley A and B lines are thin, linear opacities seen on chest X-rays that indicate the presence of pulmonary edema or other forms of interstitial lung disease. These lines represent the abnormal thickening of the interlobular septa within the lungs, typically due to the accumulation of fluid, cellular infiltration, or connective tissue changes.
| Finding | Distinction | |--------|-------------| | | Plate-like, often horizontal, not septal, resolve differently | | Scarring (old TB/fibrosis) | Upper zone, retracted hilum, chronic | | Lymphangitic carcinomatosis | Nodular or irregular septal thickening, unilateral or asymmetric | | Pneumonia | Focal airspace disease, no rapid diuresis response | | Normal vessels | Taper, branch, continuous with hilum | kerley a and b lines
In the context of heart failure, the appearance of Kerley lines often correlates with the severity of fluid overload. As a patient receives diuretic treatment and the fluid is cleared, these lines typically disappear, making them a useful marker for monitoring treatment progress. Kerley A and B lines are thin, linear