Rocky Mountain spotted fever chest x-ray

Overview
In a suspected Rocky mountain spotted fever case, a chest x-ray may in fact be useful. McCook et al. completed a retrospective study of 70 RMSF cases and found that 27% showed abnormalities. Of those 27%, more than 50% showed a pulmonary edema pattern.

Although this small study did show some pulmonary involvement with the Rocky Mountain spotted fever cases, routine radiographs are not usually a part of the general diagnostic work-up unless there is a specific reason for one.