CXR Flashcards
What does AP and PA postions mean on a chest X ray?
AP - X ray is passing through the front of the patient and then back
PA- X ray passes through the back and then front?
Which postition is better for X-ray AP or PA?
and why?
PA because AP gives you a magification of the heart
Mediastinum widening only seen accurately on a PA film
How do you go about reading a chest X ray?
(overview)
A - assessment of airway/quality
B - breathing/ lung parenchyma
C - cardiac/blood vessles
D - diaphram + pleural spaces
E - everything else, extra thoracic soft tissue, bones, lines and tubes
What is the erectile and supine postition?
erectile/prone- lying on your stomach
supine- lying on your back
What are we looking in airways in the CXR?
Trachea- is it central or deviated?
Trachea- is it alligned with the clavicle
Carina + Main bronchi- look for NG tube/ET
What are we looking for in assessment for a CXR?
Projection- AP or PA
Inspiratory - count ribs (at least 6 should be seen)
Rotation - trachea and clavicle lined up
What are we looking for in breathing/lung parenchyma on CXR?
Compare the upper, middle and lower zones
SHould only see gas= black and also vessels
Check costaphrenic angles to see if they are clear?
If the costophrenic angles are not clear, what is this suggestive of?
Pleural effusion
What are we looking for when we are looking at the heart on a normal CXR?
- Is it AP or PA because remember AP amplifies the heart
- Heart diameter should be half the size
- look for mediastinum widening on PA film
- is there an aortia pulmonary window (space between aortic knuckle and pulmonary trunk)
What should you look for in the diaphram on a CXR?
the costaphrenic angles
Under the diaphram- is there gases? NG tube? pancreatic masses and gallstones? foreign bodies
look for kerley B lines
What else finally should you look for in a CXR?
Outside of the lung
picc line
look at axillary region
Internal JV
any fractures at the clavicle/ humeral neck/ scapula and vertebal body
Interpret this chest x ray
- hyperinflated chest (classic of COPD)
- consolidation on the left midzone
- suspcion on bronchospams
Interpret this CXR?
Hyerpinflation
dense left consolidation midzone
can’t see left costophrenic angle- pleural effusion/abscess
Diffuse opacity on CXR fall into two categories? What are they?
Lung consolidation can represent any of ____, ____, cells, blood filling alveoli?
Pus, fluid
Interpret this?
Right upper lobe consolidation?
