Diagnostic Imaging

Question 1

X Ray

Answer 1

The energy that is produces a radiograph

Question 2

Radiograph

Answer 2

What we are looking at

Conventional radiograph - what we call an X-ray

Question 3

Radiologist

Answer 3

Physician

Question 4

Why does it work

Answer 4

Ionizing radiation delivered to the objects within the path and parameter of the beam
Very harmful - so we have guidelines for how much radiation someone can be exposed to with certain ages

Question 5

Plain Film

Answer 5

Hard copy
Not as common, but areas that can’t afford digital will still use these hard copies
Film is a piece of acetate held btw two sheets of silver emulsion
Photochemical reaction takes place in the area the radiation beam hits the film
Causes silver to precipitate out and turn the film darker

Question 6

Computed Radiography

Answer 6

Soft copy
Replaces the need for the photochemical processing that plain film requires
Radiation is absorbed on a phosphor screen which is scanned by a laser
The image is converted into an analog signal which is then processed into a digital image

Question 7

Digital Radiography

Answer 7

Semiconductor material is used to convert the radiation into an electrical charge
Electrical charge goes through a series of other conversions ending up as a digitized signal

Question 8

Computed Radiography vs. Digital Radiography

Answer 8

Computed = like hard copy, but you can store the response directly and you can manipulate it to some degree
Digital = you can manipulate the input to change your image, has allowed for 3D imaging and CAT scans

Question 9

Harmful?

Answer 9

Yes… to cells that have high levels of mitosis (bone marrow, testes, ova, intestinal epithelium, epidermis)

Question 10

Radiodensity

Answer 10

The more dense and object is, the more radiation energy it will absorb
The thicker an object, the more energy will be absorbed
Objects that absorb a lot of energy are said to be radiodense
Objects that absorb less energy are radiolucent

Question 11

Process of Attenuation

Answer 11

Object will absorb some of the energy, it will reflect that energy, and it will refract that energy
Basically, the idea of how much energy actually gets to the receptor

Question 12

Air

Answer 12

Radiolucent - Black

Question 13

Fat

Answer 13

Black/Gray (low radio density - radiolucent)

Question 14

Water

Answer 14

Gray (low radio density - radiolucent)

Question 15

Bone

Answer 15

White

Question 16

Contrast

Answer 16

More radiopaque than bone (white)

Question 17

Metal

Answer 17

Most radiopaque (white)

Question 18

CAT scan

Answer 18

computerized image with different slices of the body put together by a computer and it reads the densities and gives you different shades of grey

Question 19

Contrast

Answer 19

Contrast medium is something that is injected in to the body to allow for a better image to occur
Contrast Media is used to provide an artificial density to tissues
Radiopaque materials = positive contrast
Radiolucent, Air = negative contrast - used in joint imaging

Question 20

Distortion

Answer 20

How we position - can produce distortions

Question 21

Imaging Techniques and Analysis

Answer 21

Position = Body part of the patient, what position is it in
Projection = From entry to exit of the beam

Question 22

Viewing Convention

Answer 22

As if patient was facing you

Always view as if the patient is facing you in anatomic position

Question 23

Radiograph Viewing

Answer 23

Film Markers and Labels

- help with determining the view

Question 24

Identification Markers

Answer 24

Patient ID
Anatomic Side
Special Markers
Initials of the tech taking the radiograph

Question 25

Positions

Answer 25

Anatomic position is used as reference point Ex: Supine, Standing, Weight Bearing What part of the body is closest to the film

Question 26

Projection

Answer 26

Name based on the direction the x-ray beam travels | Body part examined is the closest to the film

Question 27

AP Projection

Answer 27

Anteroposterior Beam travels in anterior to posterior direction Film is position on the posterior of the body part

Question 28

PA Projection

Answer 28

Posteroanterior Beam travels in a posterior to anterior direction Film is positioned on the anterior aspect of the body part

Question 29

Lat

Answer 29

Lateral Beam moves from the lateral aspect of the body part in a medial direction At right angles to the AP/PA projection Can be further named as right or left - named for the side positioned next to the film Ex: Left lateral - go in from right to left, will image the left better than the right

Question 30

Oblique

Answer 30

Beam moves through the body at an angle On a radiograph of the trunk or head, the side is named according to which is positioned closest to the film Ex: Right oblique - we are imaging out the right side

Question 31

ABCs

Answer 31

Alignment Bone Density Cartilage Space Soft Tissues

Question 32

Alignment

Answer 32

Architecture Contour Alignment with other bones, normal spacing and spatial relationship Absent bones, additional bones Looking at relationship of bones or tissue structures in relation to one another Always count the bones

Question 33

Bone Density

Answer 33

``` General density/quality of the bone Shades of gray Is it what you expect it to be? Textural abnormalities Local density ```

Question 34

Cartilage Space

Answer 34

Joint space width Subchondral bone Epiphyseal plate Is it what we expect?

Question 35

Soft Tissues

Answer 35

``` Muscles Fat pads and lines Joint capsule Periosteum Other soft tissues ```

Question 36

Standard Projections

Answer 36

The routine images that are typically done Series of guidelines for diagnostic imaging choices need 2 projections 90 degrees from each other before can diagnose Standard is an AP and a lateral

Question 37

Skeletal Pathology

Answer 37

There are characteristic features in many pathological conditions of the musculoskeletal system Clinical Knowledge - onset, presentation, is needed to increase the accuracy of the interpretation

Question 38

PTs and Radiographs

Answer 38

We can't order diagnostic imaging We can refer to radiologist in most states If we think someone needs diagnostic imaging, we need to refer them to their physician who can then oder the imaging but we have to be able to back up why we think diagnostic imaging is needed We look at images ourselves, read the report, should be able to pick up on the larger scale things

Question 39

Image quality depends on...

Answer 39

Density Contrast Detail Distortion