week 4 Flashcards
(37 cards)
What are less dense tissue such as air or air filled structures referred to as (X ray)?
radiolucent (black)
What are more dense structure referred to as (X ray)?
radiopaque (white)
What is the most common type of chest X ray?
posteroanterior
Describe a posteroanterior X-ray
X-ray passes posterior to anterior with the plate anterior to the patients chest
patient is upright and the scapula are rotated away from the lung fields
What type of chest X ray is commonly used for portable chest X ray?
Anteroposterior
Describe an anteroposterior chest X ray
X-ray passes anterior to posterior
heart size is magnified
Why would you do an oblique X-ray?
It is used to project abnormalities away from overlying structures
Why would you use a lordotic X-ray?
provides better view of the lung apex, lingula and right middle lobes
Why would you use an expiratory chest X ray?
is used to demonstrate a small pneumothorax or unilateral airway obstruction
Why would you use a lateral decubitus x ray?
it is used to identify the presence of free pleural fluid or to confirm an air-fluid level
When your looking at a chest X ray what questions should you ask?
who?
What?
When?
Why?
How?
What system should you follow when looking at a chest X ray?
A - Alignment
B - Bones
C - Cardiac
D - Diaphragms
E - Expansion
F - Lung fields
G - Gadgets (drips, drains and tubes)
What do you want to think about when looking at alignment on a chest X ray?
Is this a straight film?
Look at the proximal ends of the clavicles in relation to the spinous processes
What do you think about when you look at bones on a chest X ray?
Are they all there, intact and in a normal position?
don’t just look at the ribs
What do you think about when you look at cardiac/mediastinum on a chest x-ray?
Is there a clear heart border?
Is it a normal size (around 1/3 of the chest diameter)
is there anything else of note in the mediastinum?
Is there any evidence of shifting of structures?
What should you think about when looking at the diaphragm on a chest X ray?
Are both hemidiaphragms clearly visible?
what about angles, cardiophrenic and costophrenic?
What should you think about when looking at expansion on a chest X ray?
How well expanded is the chest?
the 10th rib posteriorly should bisect the right hemidiaphragm at mid clavicular line and its the 6th rib anteriorly
What should you think about when looking at fields on a chest X ray?
Are the lung fields clear?
Are there any areas where the density either increases or decreases?
Can you see a lung edge?
Can you see a fluid level?
With a collapse and consolidation you will see increased opacity but with collapse you can see shifting of structures or crowding of lung markings
What should you think about when looking at gadgets on a chest X ray?
What drips, drains, tubes, line and other gadgets are visible?
Are they in, on or around the patient?
Name some common abnormalities seen on chest X rays?
Consolidation
atelectasis/ collapse
pleural effusion
Pneumothorax
Pulmonary oedema
Fracture
Describe a CT scan
Computer enhancement of a large series of two-dimensional X-ray images
taken around a single axis of rotation
Produces cross-sectional view
supplements chest X ray rather than replacing
differentiates between lung and pleural tissues
shows bony/thoracic wall lesions very clearly
very useful to visualise mediastinum
can be 3D
Describe an MRI
MRI uses the magnetic properties of the hydrogen atom to produce clear images of tissue
MRI image can be viewed in any plane
What is a consolidation of the lungs?
a condition in which lung tissue becomes firm and solid rather than elastic and air-filled because it has accumulated fluids and tissue debris
What is seen on a chest X ray for consolidation?
White/grey shadow, no loss of volume
