Consolidation

Consolidation

The lung is said to be consolidated when the alveoli and small airways are filled with dense material.

This dense material may consist of:

•  Pus (pneumonia)

•  Fluid (pulmonary oedema)

•  Blood (pulmonary haemorrhage)

•  Cells (cancer)

Lobar consolidation:

– Alveolar space filled with inflammatory exudate

– Interstitium and architecture remain intact

– The airway is patent

– Radiologically:

•  A density corresponding to a segment or lobe

•  Air bronchogram, and

•  No significant loss of lung volume