Ch. 3 Chest & Abdomen Positioning Flashcards
Ideal PA chest should include:
- CR centered at T7
- Symmetric lung fields
- Scapulae out of lung field
- Chin elevated out of anatomy
- Apices through the costophrenic angles
- 10 posterior ribs above the diaphragm
- Collimate to 0.5” beyond the skin line
- Clavicles on the same horizontal plane meeting on the lateral borders of the spine. (SC Joints should not be visualized)
What happens if the shoulders are not rolled forward on a PA chest?
The scapulae will be seen within the lung field.
Rotation on a PA chest will open the SC joints on one side or another, which side will be visualized?
The SC joint FARTHEST from the IR.
What will happen if the patient is tilted anteriorly (forward)?
-The manubrium will sit at level of T5 or lower
-MORE than 1” shown between the clavicles and the apices
-Clavicles will be more vertical (angry eyebrows)
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-Causes foreshortening (part not parallel with IR)
What will happen when the patient is tilted posteriorly (backwards) from the IR?
- The clavicles are at a position higher than T4
- Less than 1” of space between the apices and the lung field
- Clavicles look more horizontal –
- Causes foreshortening (part not parallel with IR)
How is an AP chest generally performed?
Patient is in a wheelchair. The technologist must align the IR parallel with the CR
Ideal AP chest should include:
- CR centered at C7
- Manubrium situated at T4
- Lung fields symmetrical
- Clavicles on the same plane
- Chin elevated to remove from lung field
- Collimation to within 0.5” of lateral skin line
- Arms out of anatomy of interest
Rotation on an AP chest will open an SC joint on one side or another, which side is shown when rotated?
The SC joint CLOSEST to the IR
What happens when the CR angle is too cephalic on an AP chest?
- Ribs will appear more horizontal
- The manubrium will sit higher than T4
- LESS than 1” between the apices and the clavicles
What happens when the CR angle is too caudal on an AP chest?
- Ribs will appear more vertical
- Manubrium will sit lower than T4
- MORE than 1” between the clavicles and apices
Ideal left lateral chest image should include:
- Right and left posterir ribs nearly superimposed demonstrating LESS than 0.5” of space between them
- Centered to MCP
- Hemidiaphragms inferior to the 11th thoracic vertebra
- Humeri in an upright vertical position to not overlap lung field
- Chin elevated to ensure no mandibular overlap
- Collimation to 0.5” around the soft tissue
In a left lateral chest, what happens when the patients left side is anterior to the right side?
- There will be more than 0.5” between the posterior ribs
- No gastric bubble visible
In a left lateral chest, what happens when the patients left side is posterior to the right?
- There will be more than 0.5” between the posterior ribs
- Gastric bubble will be visualized
In a left lateral chest, what will happen when a patient’s left side is situated lower than the right?
- The hemidiaphragms will not be superimposed
- Gastric bubble seen in the superior hemidiaphragm
In a left lateral chest, what will happen when a patient’s left side is situated higher than the right?
- The hemidiaphragms will not be superimposed
- No gastric bubble
