Chest Imaging Flashcards
How do the following structures appear on CXR in terms of density?
Air, fat, soft tissue/muscle, bone, metal
air - black fat - grey soft tissue/muscle - grey/white bone - white metal - bright white
What is the approach when assessing a CXR?
Name and CHI
CXR from correct date & time
Side marker - AP/PA
Technically adequate? (4 ections) Projection, inspiration, rotation and penetration
What is the ideal CXR projection?
PA
What should a normal Cardiothoracic ratio be in CXR?
At or less than 0.5
Why does the heart appear enlarged in an AP projection?
Beam can diverge until it hits detector behind patient so is magnified
For a CXR to be adequately inspired, the patient must take a big breath in and hold it. If this is done correctly the anterior ends of at least how many ribs should be visible?
6 ribs
If a CXR is correctly centred, what should be equidistant from each other?
medial ends of the clavicles should be equidistant from the spinous processes of the upper thoracic vertebrae
What should we be able to see through the heart if there is adequate penetration?
Intervertebral disc spaces
What cardiomediastinal borders should we be able to see?
left & right heart border and border of arch of aorta
In addition to the cardiomediastinal borders, what should we be able to see on CXR?
Diaphragm border and costophrenic angles
Bilateral hilars
What makes up the right heart border?
Right atrium
What makes up the rounded border of the heart superiorly?
Aorta
What makes up the left heart border from superior to inferior?
Pulmonary artery
Left auricle
left ventricle
What makes up the border of the area above the right heart border (opposite to arch border)?
Trachea
What are the pulmonary hila that are visible on CXR made up of?
the pulmonary arterial tree - its the junction between the heart and lungs where the pulmonary arteries and bronchi enter and the pulmonary veins exit the lungs
