Chest X-Rays Flashcards
Which view is the standard one?
PA
In which view does the heart appear larger?
AP
How do you know if the exposure is normal?
Can just see the vertebrae through the heart
What is the alphabet approach for looking for things on a CXR?
A - airway B - bones C - circulation D - diaphragm E - extra-thoracic F - fields
What do you look for in A?
Airways Is the trachea central? Can it be seen all the way down? Look at bronchi and left and right hilar Left is normally higher than right.
What do you look for in B?
Bones
- fractures
- notches
- dislocations
What do you look for in C?
Circulation
- cardio thoracic ratio
- aortic arch - location, aortic-pulmonary window (aortic knob)
- pulmonary vessels and hila
- right heart border (right atrium), left heart border (left ventricle)
What do you look for in D?
Diaphragm
- air underneath it?
- raised?
What do you look for in E?
Extrathoracic
- shoulder joints
- air under skin
What do you look for in F?
Fields of lungs
- equal on both sides?
- any masses?
- consolidation?
- vascular markings?
- collapse?
From where should vascular markings not be visible?
Should not be visible in the lateral third
Which bronchus do inhaled objects usually go down?
The right
When are lung fissures seen more clearly?
If there is fluid eg pleural effusion
What are a few extra points you should look for?
Lung fissures
Rotation
Silhouette sign
How do you check for rotation?
Look at difference between central end of clavicle and centre of trachea. Should be equal on both sides