What would a chest x-ray reveal for a patient with COPD?

In the context of a chest x-ray for a patient with Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease (COPD), the most accurate finding would be moderate hyperinflation. COPD often leads to changes in lung structure due to chronic airflow obstruction, and on a chest x-ray, this manifests as hyperinflation. The lungs may appear larger due to air trapping, which is a result of the damaged alveoli and increased residual volume.

Hyperinflation is characterized by an increased size of the individual lung lobes, a flattened diaphragm, and potentially a widened costophrenic angle. While an elevated diaphragm may seem like a plausible option, in COPD cases, the diaphragm often appears flattened or depressed due to the excessive expansion of the lungs. Therefore, the presence of moderate hyperinflation is a critical indicator of COPD on imaging, making it the correct choice.