Reticulogranular patterns in a radiology diagnostic description suggest which condition?

The presence of a reticulogranular pattern in a radiological description typically suggests the condition known as Acute Respiratory Distress Syndrome (ARDS) or its neonatal counterpart, Infant Respiratory Distress Syndrome (IRDS). This pattern is characterized by a network of fine linear opacities and small granules which indicate underlying issues in lung architecture, such as edema and inflammation, commonly associated with ARDS/IRDS.

In ARDS, this pattern reflects the pathological process of impaired gas exchange due to increased permeability of the alveolar-capillary membrane, resulting in fluid accumulation in the lung interstitium and alveoli. This compromises the lungs’ functionality, leading to the characteristic imaging findings seen in patients with ARDS/IRDS. These conditions often arise from various etiologies such as sepsis, pneumonia, or trauma, leading to similar imaging appearances but specifically highlight the reticulogranular pattern associated with disrupted lung interstitial architecture.

In contrast, conditions like atelectasis typically present with a different imaging pattern reflecting collapse of lung tissue, whereas pneumonia would show consolidated areas rather than the fine reticular pattern. Pleural effusion is usually identified by blunting of the costophrenic angles or fluid levels rather than the reticulog