Upon auscultation, what radiographic finding is expected in a patient with subcutaneous emphysema?

In the context of subcutaneous emphysema, hyperlucency in the soft tissues is indeed the expected finding. Subcutaneous emphysema occurs when air escapes from the lung or tracheobronchial tree into the subcutaneous tissue, leading to the presence of free air within the soft tissues of the neck or chest. Radiographically, this condition manifests as areas of increased radiolucency due to the presence of air, making the tissue appear darker on an X-ray compared to the surrounding structures.

The other options do not appropriately describe the findings associated with subcutaneous emphysema. For instance, diffuse pulmonary hyperlucency would suggest a different pathology, such as massive air trapping or hyperinflation of lungs, instead of indicating the presence of air in the soft tissues. Similarly, a tracheal shift from midline generally indicates mediastinal shifts due to mass effect or pressure changes but is not a direct finding related to subcutaneous emphysema specifically. Scattered patchy infiltrates usually indicate an inflammatory process or infection in the lung fields rather than an air-related finding within soft tissues. This contextual understanding reinforces why the correct choice reflects the characteristic presentation of air accumulation in subcutaneous emphysema.