Chest Imaging 1 -4

Question 1

What are other names for Chest X-ray? (5)

Answer 1

Chest radiograph
Chest roentgenogram
Chest film
Plain film
CXR

Question 2

What are the 3 main questions to ask yourself when taking a CXR?

Answer 2

Is the patient properly positioned? (Clavicles, spinous processes, costaphrenic angles, full thorax is in the image)

Is the image optimally exposed? (outlines of vertebra should appear clearly)

Is the patient at full inhalation? (9 post. Ribs exposed above diaphragm, 6 ant. Ribs sometimes 7)

Question 3

For sick ICU patients, this projection gives more of a “3D” look

Answer 3

Lateral Projection

Question 4

What is the alphabetical method?

Answer 4

A- airway (landmark: carina) (trachea, L/R MainS Bronc)
B- bone (clavicles, sternum, ribs, vertebral bodies)

C- cardiac silhouette/ mediastinum (bump 2x, bump 3x. Width of heart shadow <50% intrathoracic space)(HF = lg heart shadow) (if can’t see silhouette= other issue going on)

D- diaphragm (dome shaped, Rt side should be slightly higher bc liver is over there)

E- effusions/ abnormalities (lighter-> denser. Should not be visible)(look for air, fluid, pus, blood)

F- fields. (Lung)( inc densities=infiltrates)(diffuse, scattered, patchy, plate-like)

G- gastric bubble (L side =normal)

H- hilum (L is higher than R. Inc density. = BAD.. enlarged lymph due to infection of malignancy)

I- intervention