Differential Diagnosis for Single Lung Whiteout
- Single most likely diagnosis
- Pneumonia: This is the most common cause of a single lung whiteout, as it can cause consolidation and opacification of the affected lung.
- Other Likely diagnoses
- Pulmonary edema: Unilateral pulmonary edema can occur due to various causes such as aspiration, infection, or trauma, leading to a whiteout appearance on imaging.
- Lung contusion: Trauma to the chest can cause a lung contusion, resulting in hemorrhage and edema, which can appear as a whiteout on imaging.
- Pleural effusion: A large pleural effusion can cause a whiteout appearance by obscuring the underlying lung tissue.
- Do Not Miss (ddxs that may not be likely, but would be deadly if missed.)
- Pulmonary embolism: Although less common, a large pulmonary embolism can cause infarction and consolidation, leading to a whiteout appearance. Missing this diagnosis can be fatal.
- Tension pneumothorax: A tension pneumothorax is a life-threatening condition that can cause a whiteout appearance due to the compression of the lung. Prompt recognition and treatment are crucial.
- Rare diagnoses
- Lipoid pneumonia: This rare condition occurs when lipids enter the lung tissue, causing inflammation and consolidation, which can appear as a whiteout on imaging.
- Alveolar proteinosis: A rare disease characterized by the accumulation of protein and phospholipids in the alveoli, leading to a whiteout appearance on imaging.
- Lymphoma: Uncommonly, lymphoma can cause a single lung whiteout due to infiltration of the lung tissue.