Chest imaging : CT/CXR Flashcards
4 most common findings of chest pain
Acute coronary syndrome, pneumothorax, pulmonary embolus, aortic dissection
How is an MI vs. angina diagnosed?
EKG and enzyme levels
To diagnose a PE what tests would be useful?
CT and VQ scan
Name some things that put a person at increased risk for Aortic Dissection
Marfans,Ehler-Danlos, Drugs, HTN, Pregnancy
When does a pneumothorax become an emergency?
When the tension of the increased air volume compresses the vena cave
What 4 things do you have to check before evaluating a CXR?
1-adequate breath
2-over or under penetration
3- anything missing/cut off
4- patient rotation
What are the 2 bone findings you would be looking for in a CXR?
1-fx
2- lesions= healing fx calluses or cancer
What is he normal size ratio between the chest and the heart?
Heart should be 1/2 the hemi thorax
If you saw a large left atrium on X-ray, what pathology would you most strongly suspect?
Stenosis of mitral valve
What are three pathologies that would cause the heart to look enlarged on X-ray?
1- hyper trophy
2- cardiomyopathy
3- fluid around the heart
What does it mean if you can visualize the diaphragm on X-ray?
Air in the abdominal cavity
When would an AP CXR be performed? What is key in an AP film?
When the patient is unable to stand. There will be cardio enlargement.
Why is a lateral CXR performed?
To look behind the heart
What are the ABC’s of x-rays according to Dr. Johns?
A: airway/adenopathy, B: bones/boob shadow, C: cardiac silo: D: diaphragm, E:everything else, F: fields of lung
