CXR Radiology Review

Question 1

What appears black v. white on X-ray?

Answer 1

air is black, it doesn’t stop X-rays
fluids and tissues are whiter, they stop X-rays
calcium, iodine, steel are white, they stop nearly all x-rays

Question 2

List the evaluation scheme for CXR.

Answer 2

airways
bones
cardiac
diaphragms
effusions
flow (blood vessels)
gas in wrong place
lungs

Question 3

What should you see on every normal PA CXR? (6)

Answer 3

clear heart borders
clear diaphragms
sharp costophrenic angle
tracheal position is midline
lungs are symmetric in density
no lines in peripheral ¼ of lung

Question 4

How might a pulmonary embolism appear on CT?

Answer 4

a darker gray area in vessels highlighted in white due to contrast

Question 5

What happens to diaphragm silhouette with COPD?

Answer 5

flattens

Question 6

Name some possibilities for a mass that shows up white/gray on CXR.

Answer 6

pus, blood, edema, air due to collapse, tumor mass (usually slow growing)

Question 7

Peripheral line markings are characteristic of what condition?

Answer 7

Kerley B lines in CHF (veins and lymphatics are engorged)

Question 8

What two conditions could cause thickened septal walls on CXR?

Answer 8

cancer or edema

Question 9

What condition is associated with “ground glass” appearance on CT due to abnormal density?

Answer 9

hypersensitivity rxn.