Chest Radiology Flashcards
Heart size is magnified on (PA or AP) film because the heart is further away from the film
AP (front to back)
Which chest radiologic views are always preferred
PA and Lateral series (no magnification of heart, can triangulate abnormalities)
On a chest X-ray, air appears as what color
Black
On a chest X-ray, bone and metal appear as what color
White
How do you judge for adequate lung volumes off of an x-ray?
If you can count 9-10 posterior ribs above the hemidiaphragm, the volume is normal
Things to look for in a chest X-ray (A, B, C, D, E)
A- airway midline?
B- bones (any fractures or abnormalities)
C- cardiac silhouette
D- diaphragmatic angles (flat, blunted, blurry?)
E- everything else (coloration of lungs, any inconsistencies, etc.)
Materials that allow x-rays to pass are darker and ____
radiolucent
Materials that absorb x-rays are white and ____
radiopaque
Absorption of x-rays depends on what 2 factors?
- density
2. atomic number (# of protons)
Things to look for in a normal CXR?
- Bones
- Lungs
- Pleural Space
- Diaphragm
- Heart
- Mediastinum
What is the normal anatomy of ribs on CXR?
9-10 posterior ribs showing above hemidiaphragm on frontal film
Which side of lungs has 3 lobes?
Right
Which side of lungs has 2 lobes?
Left
What happens when pleural space is filled?
- The fluid is tapped via thoracentesis.
2. Diagnosed as inflammation, exudative (PE, pneumonia, cancer, TB), or transudative (CHF, cirrhosis, kidney syndrome).
What is the normal anatomy of diaphragm on CXR?
- IVC enters at T8
- Esophagus at T10
- Aorta at T12
- I ate ten eggs at 12
