What characteristic findings are expected on a chest X-ray for a patient with CHF or pulmonary edema?

In patients with congestive heart failure (CHF) or pulmonary edema, chest X-ray findings typically reveal bilateral fluffy opacities and Kerley lines. The fluffy opacities represent areas of increased lung density due to fluid accumulation in the interstitial spaces and alveoli, which is characteristic of pulmonary edema. This finding is often described as "butterfly wings" because it tends to present as a symmetrical distribution around the hilum of the lungs.

Kerley lines are thin, horizontal lines seen at the lung bases, indicating interstitial fluid associated with congestion or edema. These lines represent the edema in the interstitial tissues of the lungs and are a classic radiographic finding in CHF.

Other options may describe conditions that can be present in the lungs but do not specifically signal CHF or pulmonary edema. For example, fluid-filled alveoli with emphysema do not demonstrate the hallmark signs of CHF and pulmonary edema. Consolidation and atelectasis are typically associated with pneumonia or other lung infections and would show specific patterns quite different from those seen in CHF. Lastly, a normal chest X-ray would not indicate the presence of CHF or pulmonary edema, as these conditions inherently produce abnormal findings due to fluid accumulation and vascular congestion.