Advanced Patient Assessment Practice Exam

Which of the following signs are indicative of lobar atelectasis on radiologic findings?

1. Collapse of lung tissue

2. Increased lung volume

3. Normal diaphragm position

4. Shift in hilar structures

The correct answer is: Collapse of lung tissue

The indication of lobar atelectasis on radiologic findings primarily revolves around the collapse of lung tissue. In cases of lobar atelectasis, a specific segment or lobe of the lung becomes deflated, resulting in a visible loss of volume on a chest X-ray or CT scan. The affected lobe may appear denser than the surrounding normal lung tissue due to this collapse, and this is a crucial sign that can be readily identified by radiologists and healthcare professionals. Increased lung volume is typically associated with conditions such as emphysema or hyperinflation, contrary to the reduced volume seen in atelectasis. A normal diaphragm position would not suggest a state of lobar atelectasis, as one might observe a shift in diaphragmatic position depending on the severity and extent of the lung collapse. The shift in hilar structures can occur in atelectasis due to compensatory mechanisms or the displacement from the collapsed lobe but is secondary to the primary finding of the lung tissue collapse itself. Therefore, collapsing lung tissue is the definitive and most direct sign of lobar atelectasis in imaging studies, making it the correct answer.