chest x-rays Flashcards
how do bones/fluid appear on an x-ray and why?
white bc they absorb the x ray
how do soft tissue/heart/lungs appear on an x-ray and why?
darker
x-rays pass through it
what are the 5 shades of grey seen on an x-ray and what structure causes them?
black - air dark grey - fat light grey - soft tissue white - bone/fluid bright white - metal
why do we use x-rays?
to identify; chest pathology, abdominal pathology, foreign objects and to confirm proper placement of devices and lines
how should you always start an x-ray?
checking patient details, date and time and any previous imaging
what 4 things should be checked on an x-ray?
Rotation Inspiration Projection Exposure RIPE
how is rotation checked on an x-ray?
Check clavicles are equidistant –> shows that patient is in the right position and they aren’t hunched over
how should inspiration be checked on an x-ray?
10th rib is visible on full inspiration
what is the normal view of an x-ray?
PA - film is in front of the patient
what is PA used over AP?
reduces magnification of heart
reduces radiation dose to radiation sensitive organs
moves scapula away from lung field
reduces patient movement and stabilises them
clearer image of spine and posterior ribs
how do you know if an x-ray is over penetrated?
everything goes black bc it’s been exposed to the x-ray for too long
how should an x-ray image be interpreted after everything has been checked?
Airway Breathing Circulation Diaphragm Everything else
how should the airway be checked on an x-ray?
trachea, bronchi should be visible and branch at the carina
trachea should pass to the right of the aorta
what causes the trachea to be pushed to the side?
increase in volume/pressure in one hemithorax
a mass
tension pneumothorax
what causes the trachea to be pulled to the side?
loss of volume/pressure in one hemithorax
caused by collapse or consolidation
how can breathing be checked on an x-ray?
lungs assessed as zones
lung markings should occupy entire zone
full of air so should be dark
what zones are the lungs divided into?
upper zone
middle zone
lower zone
when are the pleura and pleural spaces visible in an x-ray?
when an abnormality is present
in an abnormality, what happens to the costophrenic and cardio-phrenic angles?
blunted
how does a collapsed lung look on an x-ray?
darker
how do you check circulation on an x-ray?
aortic knuckle
heart size
heart borders
what does the aortic knuckle show?
left lateral edge of aorta
what causes a loss of definition of the aortic knuckle?
aneurysm or adjacent consolidation
which side of the diaphragm should be higher and why?
right bc the liver is underneath it
