Abstract
Various forms of blood dyscrasias may produce chest X-ray abnormalities which are characteristic of each entity.
I) Of the diseases with decreased erythrocyte counts, long-standing iron-deficiency anemia will produce cardiomegaly which is characteristically free of development of pulmonary edema through-out the course of the disease. On the contrary, megaloblastic anemia is frequently accompanied by heart failure and pulmonary congestion.
In polycythemia, pulmonary vascular markings appear dilated and tortuous and remain so long even after effective treatment.
II) In leukemia, abnormal chest X-ray findings can be classified into five types.
1. Increased lung markings
2. Bronchopneumonia or lobar pneumonia
3. Enlarged hilar shadow
4. Disseminated densities
5. Tumor formation
Overall incidence of abnormal chest findings was 49.4% in cases with acute and 84.696 of those with chronic leukemia.
Histological studies of lung sections established that these X-ray findings are primarily the result of the presence of leukemic cells in the alveolar septal vessels or their extravascular infiltration, in association with superimposed edema, congestion, hemorrhage, infection, fibrosis or thromboembolism in various combinations.
III) Immunosuppression is not uncommon in blood dyscrasia. Especially during the course of steroid therapy, the possibilities of such complications as miliary tuberculosis or other infection, and the infestation of Pneumocystis Carinii should be kept in mind
