Abdomen Xrays Flashcards
Centre point
Iliac crest
What outlines the psoas muscles and the kidneys well?
fat and gas because the organs have the same atomic number and density
Where are the upper and lower poles of the left kidney?
11th T vertebra and 3rd lumbar vertebra transverse processes. 7.5 cm from the midline of the thoracic vertebra.
Where is the right kidney positioned?
2.5 cm below the left kidney
How do you position for a KUB X-ray?
Collimate to the ASIS and take it on inspiration
Where is the psoas muscle?
Starts at the 1st lumbar vertebra and ends at the lesser trochanter
What changes would you make if there is too much gas or masses?
change the kVp by 5-8% accordingly or change the mAs by 30-50%.
How long and why would we sit up a patient for intraperitoneal air?
5 mins to 20 mins. So that the air travels away from the abdomen towards the chest where it can be clearly visualised.
How do you position for a supine abdomen X-ray?
CP- illiac crest
collimate in by 2.5cm
Normally on expiration
What should you see on a supine abdomen x-ray?
12th thoracic vertebra to superior arc of the pubic symph.
Saccrum centered within the inlet of the pelvis, inline with the pubic symph
Diaphram domes are superior to the 9th posterior ribs
illiac wings, pedicles to spinous processes, obturator foramen
Should see kidneys, psoas muscles and lower border of the liver
What happens during a full expiration in a supine abdo x-ray?
right side of the diaphragm dome is at the same transverse level as the 9th t vertebra. It places less diaphragm pressure on the abdo organs, so increased space in the peritoneal cavity and less abdo density.
Exposure for abdomen
70-20>32
Why would you do a KUB view?
Collimation reduced laterally to the ASIS’s.
Why would you do a coned renal view?
If kidneys are not visualised on the AP image
Where is the VCR centered on the coned renal view? What is the image criteria?
midway between the lower costal margin and xipisternum. Entire kidneys, bony structures not rotated, spinous processes centered and should be free of movement unsharpness.
