A rare case published in the New England Journal of Medicine in 2012 shows what happens when barium, normally used to check swallowing, accidentally enters the lungs instead of the stomach. The swallowed contrast outlined the entire bronchial tree, creating a “glowing tree” appearance on the X-ray. This happens when someone has difficulty swallowing and the barium slips into the airway. While some patients only cough it out, large-volume aspiration can become serious. #documentary #doctor #healt