Principles

Question 1

how are radiographs named?

Answer 1

according to the direction the central x-ray penetrates the body from point-of-entrance to point-of-exit

oblique: angle of obliquity inserted if NOT standard 45 degrees (ex. DLPaMO = D60LPaMO if 60 degrees laterally with respect to dorsal)

lateral abdomen/thorax: abbreviated relative to to the recumbency of the patient (basically what side the animal is lying on, rather than the standard naming)

Question 2

tell me about the special cases of naming for these circumstances:
- skull
- above carpus/tarsus
- below carpus/tarsus

Answer 2

skull: use rostral instead of cranial
above carpus/tarsus: cranial/caudal
below carpus/tarsus: dorsal/palmar/plantar

Question 3

how do you hang a radiograph? like what directions are where?

Answer 3

lateral views: head to left, dorsal is up

VD/DV: head is top, patient left on right of screen

SA limbs: distal is down, L vs R is whatever you want (be consistent)

LA limbs: walking to the left

Question 4

doubling of mAs = ______%_________ in kVp
halving of mAs = ______% __________ in kVp

Answer 4

15 increase
15 decrease

Question 5

silhouette sign is also called ….. ?

Answer 5

border effacement

Question 6

should you do a dog-o-gram?

Answer 6

no

Question 7

what is the minimum number of views for a standard radiograph? what about for LA?

Answer 7

2 - orthogonal views
4 for LA

Question 8

what are the borders for thoracic radiograph?

Answer 8

thoracic inlet –> all of diaphragm –> sternum and ST –> dorsal spinous processes

Question 9

what are the borders for abdomen radiograph?

Answer 9

diaphragm –> end of pelvis
try to include ST’s to caudal end of pelvis if relevant

Question 10

what are the borders for MSK joint radiograph?

Answer 10

joint in centre of image, mid diaphysis above and below

Question 11

what are the borders for MSK bone radiograph?

Answer 11

joint above and below bone

Question 12

for thorax radiographs, how many views should you take and what views?

Answer 12

at least 2
lateral AND VD or DV

depends on purpose of study:
- metastatic check: min 3 views (both laterals and VD)
- cardiac evaluation: 2 views lateral and VD or DV
- heart failure: 2 views lateral and DV

Question 13

for abdomen radiographs, how many views should you take and what views?

Answer 13

2 views at leasdt
right or left lateral AND VD or DV

best clinical practice = 3 views

Question 14

for MSK radiographs, how many views should you take and what views?

Answer 14

at least 2 for most things
cuboidal joints (carpus/tarsus): min 4 views