Chest X-Ray Flashcards
Why are PA CXRs more accurate than AP views?
AP = enlarged heart/mediastinal shadow
What is it called when materials of the same radiographic density meet, resulting in a lack of border?
silhouette sign
What are two examples of silhouette sign?
heart + pleural effusion
heart + infiltrate
When reviewing a film, when should you examine the part of the chest you are most interested in?
last
What are 4 Rs to consider before reviewing a film?
Right patient, right date, right study, right side?
How do you assess for rotation of a patient on a CXR?
Clavicles equidistant from spinous proceses
On inspiration CXR, how many posterior and anterior ribs should sit above the diaphragm?
8-10 posterior
5-7 anterior
Regardless of PA or AP view, how does the reader view a film?
as if they are facing reader
What is ABCDEFGHI for CXR Interpretation?
Airway/Assess quality Bones Cardiac Diaphragm Effusion/Extrathoracic soft tissue Fields/fissures/foreign bodies Great vessels/Gastric Bubble Hila & mediastinum Impression
How can you identify the first rib/T1?
T1 has upward angled spinous process
When reviewing the diaphragm/abdomen on CXR, is the right or left side of the diaphragm usually higher?
right side
Blunting of the diaphragm on CXR indicates…
scarring/fluid
What should you assess for when looking just below the diaphragm?
air/gas: pneumoperitoneum
A low-flat diaphragm is suggestive of…
COPD
Paralysis/nerve damage, trauma, or loss of lung volume due to atelectasis/PNA would cause what radiographic finding of the diaphragm?
unilateral high diaphragm
A healthy costophrenic angle should have what appearance?
sharply pointed acute angles
bubbling below the left diaphragm in the LUQ is a normal/abnormal finding…
normal (bowel gas)
On supine or AP CXR, the mediastinum will appear…
wider
Which hilum typically sites higher?
Left higher
The hila are made up of what structures?
main pulmonary arteries and major bronchi
A bump off the left side of the mediastinum around the 2nd or 3rd rib is the…
aortic knob
On a lateral view, the upper and middle lobes are separated by the…
minor fissure (horizontal)
On a lateral view, the upper/middle lobes are separated from the lower lobe by the…
major fissure (oblique line)
The right lung has how which fissures and how many lobes?
3 lobes, horizontal and oblique fissures
The left lung has which fissures and how many lobes?
oblique fissure, 2 lobes (no middle)
What are two unique features to the left lung?
lingula (superior/inferior) and cardiac notch
Where are vascular markings more prominent in lung fields?
lower and central
Pleural/vascular markings should extend where?
to the chest wall
What structures are in the middle mediastinaum?
heart and great vessels