Chest Flashcards
What is visible on the chest x-ray (thorax)?
Heart
Lungs
Ribs
Diaphragm
Liver
Spleen
Stomach
Clavicles
Spine
Aortic Arch
Scapula
What is the thorax?
region between the abdomen inferiorly and the root of the neck superiorly. It forms from the thoracic wall, its superficial structures (breast, muscles, and skin) and the thoracic cavity. (Kudzinskas A 2021)
What is the x-ray projections of the chest?
PA Chest
Lateral Chest
AP Chest
What are the clinical indications for a chest x-ray?
Respiratory disease
Cardiac disease
Haemoptysis
Suspectedpulmonary embolism
Investigation oftuberculosis
Pneumonia
Pneumothorax
Suspected metastasis
Follow up of known disease to assess progress
Chronic dyspnoea
Trauma
Pneumoperitoneum
Evaluation of symptoms that could relate to abdominopelvic pathology
Thoracic disease processes
Monitoring of patients in intensive care units
Post-operative imaging
Pre-employment medical fitness
Immigration screening
exclude radiopaque foreign bodies (accidental aspiration,MRI safety screen)
What is the adequacy of an AP chest x -ray?
Apices down to lateral costophrenic angles should be visualised
No superimposition of the chin, arms or scapulae
SC joints are equidistant from the spinous process
Max. of 10 posterior ribs visualised above the diaphragm
The 5th-7thanterior ribs should intersect the diaphragm at midclavicular line
Ribs and thoracic cage are seen only faintly over the heart
Vascular markings of lungs should be clear
What is the Costophrenic angle on an AP Chest?
Diaphragm meets the rib laterally and should be sharp
What organ is under the right hemidiaphragm?
Liver
What organs are under the left hemidiaphragm?
Stomach and Spleen
What is the adequacy of a lateral chest x-ray?
Apices down to lateral costophrenic angles should be visualised
No superimposition of the chin
Superimposition of the anterior ribs
Sternum is seen in profile
Superimposition of the posterior costophrenic recess (think angles)
Min. of 10 posterior ribs are visualised above the diaphragm
Ribs and thoracic cage are seen only faintly over the heart
Vascular markings of lungs should be clear
What is the gold standard chest x ray view?
PA
What circumstances require an AP chest xray?
Very ill, Trauma, Mobile X-ray, immobile patient
Why do we not really use AP chest x-ray?
The heart is further away from the image receptor in an AP chest x-ray which magnifies the heart and reduces the lung field. This is why PA is used instead of AP.
What are the lines of measurement on a PA chest x-ray?
Cardiothoracic Ratio
What is the systematic approach for assessing chest x-rays?
A – Airways and Adequacy
B – Bones & Soft Tissues
C – Cardiac
D – Diaphragm
E – Edges of Heart
F – Fields & Fissures
G – Great Vessels
H – Hila & mediastinum
What is the cardiothoracic ratio?
𝑚𝑎𝑥. ℎ𝑜𝑟𝑖𝑧𝑜𝑛𝑡𝑎𝑙 𝒄𝒂𝒓𝒅𝒊𝒂𝒄 𝑑𝑖𝑎𝑚𝑒𝑡𝑒𝑟/𝑚𝑎𝑥. ℎ𝑜𝑟𝑖𝑧𝑜𝑛𝑡𝑎𝑙 𝒕𝒉𝒐𝒓𝒂𝒄𝒊𝒄 𝑑𝑖𝑎𝑚𝑒𝑡𝑒𝑟
only used on a PA Chest
Normal range is 0.42-0.50
Number outside range = abnormal, likely pathological
A low measurement = Small Heart Syndrome