Chest CT

Typical findings on CT demonstrate patchy areas of consolidation primarily in a peripheral location. Patients may progress to diffuse involvement of all five lobes with both ground-glass attenuation and air-space consolidation. Focal areas of sparing are common. These findings are characteristic of acute respiratory distress syndrome and correlate with the histological finding of diffuse alveolar damage. Axial CT illustrations (left) of the upper (top figure) and lower (bottom figure) lobes of lung show consolidation, ground-glass attenuation, and focal areas of sparing characteristic of DAD.