Chest X Ray

Question 1

What is an X-ray?

Answer 1

Electromagnetic radiation, which can pass through soft tissue to produce a radiograph ( the picture itself is also called an xray)

Question 2

What is the dose of a CXR?

Answer 2

0.2mSv

Question 3

Is the radiation dose of a chest x ray significant?

Answer 3

No, it is 3 days worth of normal background radiation if you live in the uk of 200g worth of Brazil nuts radiation.

Question 4

Which is better PA or AP?

Answer 4

PA

Question 5

Why is PA better than AP?

Answer 5

The radiation in AP hits the heart first and enlarges the heart it also shows up as much more white.

Question 6

When/why is AP used?

Answer 6

Very sick patients who we cannot expect to stand up for the duration of the scan (e.g. in ICU)

Question 7

What do we need to include in the chest x ray as borders?

Answer 7

Need the clavicle
Need diaphragmatic arches
Need costal margins

Question 8

How can we tell if the chest x-ray is aligned properly?

Answer 8

Spinous processes are in the midline

Also trachea and aorta- although an off centre trachea may be a sign of pathology

Question 9

What is adequate penetration? What do we need to be able to see?

Answer 9

Adequate penetration is the ability to see everything you need to, you need to be able to see behind the heart

Question 10

What tissue can we see in an x ray?

Answer 10

We can see the oblique fissure but not the horizontal fissures

Question 11

What is the right pretracheal stripe?

Answer 11

The azygous vein