Chest X-Ray Flashcards
The focal film distance on a chest x-ray (CXR) is __”
72”
Patient position on a normal CXR?
P-A
On a normal PA CXR you want the patient positioned w/their ____ abducted, using ___ kVp, and taken on full INSPIRATION
Scapulae, 100(ish)
Why are CXR’s taken P-A?
Heart and other structures are closer to the film
A PA CXR should be collimated to ____
Film size
A typical thoracic x-ray (TXR) is taken with what patient positioning?
A-P
The focal film distance on an AP TXR is __” and should be collimated to ____
40”, 8”x17”
The patient’s arms are at their sides on a typical AP TXR and it should be taken using approx. ___ kVp
80(ish)
A lateral thoracic x-ray is taken at __” FFD and collimated to ____ using approx. 80kVp (same as AP)
40”, the spine
Where are the patient’s arms on a lateral thoracic x-ray?
Out in front (90 degree shoulder flexion)
A lateral chest x-ray is always taken w/the patients ___ side closest to the film
Left
A lateral chest x-ray should have __” FFD, be collimated to ____ using >100kVp
72”, film size
Where are the patient’s arms on a lateral chest x-ray?
Overhead (on top of head)
A CXR has a very (low/high) amount of radiation
LOW
The name of the special x-ray that images the lung apices? (Normally they are obscured by the clavicles)
Apical lordotic
What are the two options for taking an apical lordotic x-ray?
- Patient leans back (AP)
2. 20 degree cephalic tube angulation
Name of the special x-ray where the patient is side-lying?
Lateral decubitus
This type of imaging is not widely used anymore because of computed tomography and MRI. It uses motion of the X-ray tube and film to selectively blur out unwanted structures by keeping one plane in focus.
Conventional Tomography (not typical CT)
FDG-PET stands for?
Fluorodeoxyglucose-Positron Emission Tomography
Fluorodeoxyglucose is a radionuclide injection similar to ____ (used in bone scans), used to highlight metabolically active cells (i.e. cancer cells)
Technetium phosphate (99)
Nuclear medicine scans (similar to bone scans) primarily done to disclose pulmonary emboli
Ventilation/Perfusion Scans
The ventilation part is for _____, while the perfusion part is for _____
Airways, vasculature
A high kVp technique results in absorption of ____ photons (more/fewer)
Fewer
The disadvantage to a high kVp technique?
Lower image contrast (BUT on a CXR it doesn’t matter because there is excellent inherent contrast provided by the air in the lungs!)
More photons pass through the patient (meaning less are absorbed), and there is a faster exposure time (meaning less image blurring) while using a ____ kVp technique
High
High kVp = ____ contrast, low kVp = ____ contrast
Lower, higher (and higher dose)
The trachea should deviate slightly to the ___ in the vicinity of the aortic arch
Right
Which side main stem bronchus should be more vertical?
Right
In a normal cardiac:thorax ratio, the heart should take up
1/2
On a PA CXR the position of the heart should be approx. __-__ to the right of the midline
1/4-1/3
On a PA CXR the ___ ribs will be “easier to see” (like the ones that pop out at you)
Posterior…
The possible “shadows” above the clavicles that follow along the same line as the superior clavicle line are called _____
Companion shadows
The ____ diaphragm should be 1/2 an intercostal space higher than the _____
Right, left
Non-acute costophrenic angles and/or thickening of the pleural fissures would be indicative of?
Effusion (fluid)
When checking the lung fields on a PA CXR the end of blood vessels would appear ____, while the end of bronchi would appear ____
White, black
On a PA CXR the ___ lung hilus is slightly lower
Right
The four main components of a lung hilum?
- Pulmonary arteries
- Pulmonary veins
- Main stem bronchi
- Lymph nodes
