What does it mean that pneumonia ribs increase and thicken?

In many reports, we can see the diagnosis of "the texture of both lungs increases and thickens", so what does this mean? In order to understand the real significance of this diagnosis, we must start with the formation of lung texture. We can imagine two lungs of a tree. Alveolar lung is essentially lobulated, while pulmonary artery, pulmonary vein and bronchus are equivalent to branches. On X-ray images, they show dendritic shadows distributed radially from hilum to lung field, which we call "lung texture".

Whether it is normal or pathological. Under normal circumstances, young adults, strenuous exercisers, long-term smokers, women's menstrual period, pregnant women and other people, bilateral lung textures increase and thicken.

Under pathological conditions, such as fever, pneumonia, early or chronic cough, acute and chronic bronchitis, some heart diseases or heart diseases, lymphadenopathy, occupational diseases, etc., lung texture will also thicken and increase.

Some equipment factors, such as photos or images obtained under different equipment conditions, will produce different lung texture effects. Therefore, the same patient will produce different lung texture effects under different equipment conditions. For example, the effect of ordinary photography is different from that of digital photography, which can display lung texture because of its high resolution. Different subjective judgments of radiologists will lead to different judgments and standards; The objective reading conditions and the influence of the monitor on different occasions will also determine different effects. Finally, it is necessary to make a descriptive diagnosis of clinicians in order to reach a tacit understanding with clinicians and eliminate the psychological pressure of patients.

Therefore, there is no objective and quantifiable standard for the increase of lung texture, which is related to the patient's own health status, equipment factors and the personal experience of the diagnostician. There are many reasons for the thickening and increase of lung texture, which can be pathological, physiological or technical.

Generally speaking, it is of no clinical value to say that the lung texture is thickened and increased alone. Only by carefully analyzing the nature of increased lung texture and considering other X-ray manifestations, clinical conditions and technical conditions can we draw a correct conclusion. Therefore, there is no need to panic when you find yourself with this diagnosis during the physical examination. You should consult a doctor in time for more in-depth examination, so as to have a more definite diagnosis result and carry out timely treatment according to the result.