Imaging the thorax Flashcards
(34 cards)
Which review areas should you pay special attention to on a chest x-ray?
–Apices
–Costo-phrenic angle
–Behind the heart
–Hila
–Peripheries
Where is -
- Aortic arch
- Left and right heart borders
- Aortic arch - M1
- Left heart border - M3
Right heart border - M4
How can you ensure there is no rotation on a chest x-ray?
Align: spinous processes of thoracic vertebrae (posterior) with medial ends of both clavicles
Distance should be equal
What are the causes of cardiomegaly on chest x-ray
Left ventricular failure (CCF)
Pericardial effusion - heart normal size
Dilated cardiomyopathy
What chambers are these?
What anatomical structures makes up the left and right heart borders?
Right - right atrium
Left - left ventricle
Where is the hilar point?
Hilar point:
‘v’ shaped point where the lower lobe pulmonary arteries cross the upper lobe pulmonary veins
-Should be symmetrical
Where is the pulmonary artery and pulmonary vein?
V - pulmonary artery
* - pulmonary vein
What does a raised hilum indicate?
- upper lobe collapse / fibrosis
What does an obscured hilum indicate?
?Lymphadenopathy / tumour / mediastinal mass
Complete the diagram of pulmonary arteries and hila
MPA - Main pulmonary artery
Complete the diagram of pulmonary arteries and hila
Where is the trachea and what is abnormal about this trachea?
A
Veers slightly to the right
What is hyperexpansion?
Hyperexpansion: if greater than 6 anterior ribs above dome of hemidiaphragm.
- normal in young
- Asthma
- COPD / emphysema
How can you look for hyperexpansion on a chest x-ray?
6th anterior rib should clip the middle of the diaphragm (blue line)
What soft tissues can you see on a chest x-ray?
Breast shadow - S
Axillary tail - AT
Gastric fundus and bowel gas below diaphragm - GF
What does this image show?
Air under diaphragm - caused by bowel perforation
What does this chest x-ray show?
Tension pneumothorax
Heart shifted to right from tension caused by valve effect
What does this chest x-ray show?
Non-tension pneumothorax
What does this show?
Cardiomegaly
How can you tell if a chest x-ray has cardiomegaly?
Which lobe is the lung shadowing in?
Lower lobe
Complete the diagram
Which lobe is the mass in?
Upper lobe
