[The present status of the radiologic diagnosis of acute pulmonary failure]

Acute pulmonary failure is a very serious cause of respiratory failure and can occur in association with a multitude of disease. Radiological diagnosis occupies a central position in intensive-care monitoring. X-ray film of the thorax is performed not only for detecting any complications, but mainly for noninvasive and semiquantitative determination of the extravascular pulmonary fluid and hence of the fluid balance, although it is imperative to take into account any influence that associated disease and therapy measures. Other methods such as MR or methods of nuclear medicine have not acquired substantial importance in respect of diagnosing and monitoring acute pulmonary failure.