Diagnostic imaging

Question 1

what increased radiopacity?

Answer 1

whiter

Question 2

what is increased radiolucency?

Answer 2

blacker

Question 3

what are the five radiographic opacities?

Answer 3

air (black)
fat
soft tissue/fluid
mineral (bone)
metal (white)

Question 4

what are the radiographic (röntgen) signs?

Answer 4

number
size
shape (include margins)
location
opacity

Question 5

when appraising the radiographs quality, what must be assessed?

Answer 5

correct patient/region
two orthogonal views
views and labelling
technical quality

Question 6

what needs to be assessed when looking at the technical quality of a radiograph?

Answer 6

exposure
collimation 
position (well centred)
contrast
artefacts

Question 7

what is the mass effect?

Answer 7

increases in mass will cause other tissue/organs to displace

Question 8

what are the limitations of radiographs?

Answer 8

no information about function

still snapshot in time

Question 9

what view of a thoracic radiograph should always be taken first?

Answer 9

dorsoventral (lateral will cause atelectasis)

Question 10

what needs to be assessed on the overall radiograph of the thorax?

Answer 10

radiographic quality
phase of respiration
body condition

Question 11

how do lungs appear different on radiographs during inspiration?

Answer 11

larger lungs so less opaque

Question 12

how does obesity effect how the lungs look on a radiograph?

Answer 12

increased opacity

Question 13

what are the thoracic/anatomical compartments that can be involved with radiographic changes?

Answer 13

pleural space/thoracic wall
mediastinum
lungs

Question 14

what can cause decreased opacity of the thorax?

Answer 14

penumothorax

Question 15

what three signs of pneumothorax can be seen on a radiograph?

Answer 15

air in pleural space
retraction of lung from thoracic margin
elevation of cardiac silhouette

Question 16

how will pleural effusion appear on a radiograph?

Answer 16

border effacement of heart/diaphragm
pleural fissures
retraction of lung margins from thoracic wall

Question 17

what anatomy is found in the mediastinum?

Answer 17

trachea
oesophagus
heart and vessels
lymph nodes

Question 18

where is the most common place to find masses in the mediastinum?

Answer 18

cranioventral (lymph nodes and thymus)

Question 19

what can cause diffuse distributed diffuse opacity of the lungs?

Answer 19

artefact
hypovolaemia
hyperinflation

Question 20

what is a mediastinal shift?

Answer 20

when the mediastinum moves due to changes in lung volume

Question 21

what are the lung patterns for localising lesions?

Answer 21

bronchial pattern
vascular pattern
interstitial pattern
alveolar pattern

Question 22

what is seen with bronchial patterns?

Answer 22

increased visibility of bronchial walls (thick/increased opacity)

Question 23

what lung pattern can air bronchograms be seen with?

Answer 23

alveolar patterns

Question 24

what is the most common cause of interstitial lung patterns?

Answer 24

artifactual

Question 25

how big do soft tissue nodules need to be in the lung to be seen on a radiograph?

Answer 25

4-5mm (aerated lungs)

Question 26

what is the cardiac silhouette?

Answer 26

heart, pericardial contents, pericardium

Question 27

what will be seen on a radiograph if the left side of the heart is enlarged?

Answer 27

tracheal elevation (heart taller)
caudal cardiac border straightening
left atrial enlargement (tenting)

Question 28

what will be seen on a radiograph if the right side of the heart is enlarged?

Answer 28

increased width
increased sternal contact
rounded right side

Question 29

what shape is the heart described as if there is right sided enlarged on a DV view?

Answer 29

reverse D