Kerley B lines – Chest X-ray
Kerley B lines
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Kerley B lines are short horizontal white lines seen in chest X-ray produced by distended interlobular septa.
Features of Kerley B lines:
- Short – about 1-2 cm long
- Seen close to the pleura and perpendicular to it
- Individual lines are parallel to each other
- Usually seen at the lung bases near costophrenic angles in postero-anterior view radiographs / at the substernal region in lateral radiographs
Mechanism:
- Fluid accumulation between the secondary lobules of the lungs in pulmonary oedema
Other causes of septal lines:
- Conditions producing lymphatic obstruction – sarcoidosis, lymphangitis carcinomatosa
2 Comments
never been able to see such an x ray in our hospital…
I am very clear now with the xray showing Kerly B lines and also causes of these lines. We really miss this in our routine film reading. Thank you Sir
Dr T N Kuppusami, Madurai, India. 2.9.13