E1 Flashcards
X-ray definition
• Classification of radiation called electromagnetic waves.
What do xrays produce and how
Image seen on the film/CT
• Depends on amount X-Ray absorbed by the tissues
• Prior to reaching the film plate.
What doe xray images show and how is this accomplished
Shows:
• parts of our body in different shades of black and white.
Accomplished by
• Difference in radiation absorption between tissues
What is the general use of xrays
- to diagnose numerous medical conditions
* to treat numerous medical conditions
Most important thing about xray assessment
Best predictor of
• Difficult endobronchial intubation
• Clues you into potential airway issues
Xray assessment can guide CRNA’s….
Plan of care
What is xray density
- Degree of xray absorption
* Based on density of substance xray travels through
What do the black and white portions of the xray image indicate
Densities
Black = air filled spaces
White = dense tissue spaces
What are examples of black and white substances on xray
black:
air, fat
white:
metal, bone, calcifications, soft tissue
What is penetrance
• Helps determine if film is over or under penetrated by xrays
What is over penetrance
• Detail can be lost
Poor differentiation of structures?
• The higher density = whiter structures
• More lucent = darker structures
What is under penetration
White imaging becomes more prominent (leads to falsely dense image)
• Opacity or consolidation
May appear prominent (whiter)
• Can produce a false positives
• May use to identify structures behind other tissues
In what situation may an under penetrated image be useful
to identify structures behind other tissues
Xray benegits
Noninvasive
Painless.
Supports medical and surgical planning.
Identify landmarks
Guides for insert caths, stents, treat tumors, remove blood clots.
Xray risks
Generally assct w/ radiation therapy Ionizing radiation Could develop cancer Hair loss Cataract damage Skin burns
What is ionizing radiation
Ionizing radiation:
• form of radiation can cause tissue damage DNA damage.
What is ionizing radiation
• form of radiation can cause tissue damage DNA damage.
–The energy to create free radical and ionized molecules in tissues
Why does ionizing radiation occur
D/t driving electrons out of their stable orbits (this causes the free radicals and ionized molecules)
What may happen is sufficient exposure to ionizing radiation occurs
Tissue could be destroyed
Malignancy d/t chromosomal changes
Xray raduation exposure unit
rem
roentgen equivalent man
Primary source of human exposure
Cosmic rays
Primary source of human exposure and general amount
US population general exposure
Cosmic rays
Natural sources equate 80-200 mrems/yr???
US exposure
40 mrem/yr
How is exposure measured
dosemeter
Max Occupation exposure recommendations
Guideline set by who?
No more than 5 rems max allowable yearly
for ‘whole body’ occupational exposure
Office of homeland security and emergency coordination radiation safety division
Max recommended exposure during pregnancy
Limit max exposure to 500 mrem
General chest xray exposure
~25 mrems
Recommended safety precautions and/or distance from pt when performing xray
3-ft distance from pt recommended
Lead aprons
0.25 – 0.5 mm thick do the job.
6 ft of distance from xray provides equivalent protection to
Equates to
9 inches of concrete protection
2.5 mm lead apron
6 ft of distance from xray provides equivalent protection to
Equates to
9 inches of concrete protection
2.5 mm lead apron
What is the TWU clinical policy for pregnant women
Radiation exposure through radiography, CT, nuc me or fluro is generally at doses much lower than levels associated w/ fetal harm
-given that proper safety precautions are in place
- inform program in writing
- program will supply
- -policy
- -dosimetry
Describe the small opacity classification
can be round, irregular, or combination of the two. 2 Primary shapes • Round • Irregular • Combo…
6 basic sizes. • ROUND (1-3) • Round – p = up to 1.5 mm in size. • Round – q = 1.5 – 3 mm in size. • Round – r = 3 – 10 mm in size.
- Irregular 4-6 (easier to see on frontal xray)
- Irregular – s = up to 1.5 mm in size.
- Irregular – t = 1.5 mm – 3mm in size.
- Irregular – u = 3 – 10 mm in size.
Difference in opacity sizing classifications
6 basic sizes. • ROUND • Round – p = up to 1.5 mm in size. • Round – q = 1.5 – 3 mm in size. • Round – r = 3 – 10 mm in size. • Irregular (easier to see on frontal xray) • Irregular – s = up to 1.5 mm in size. • Irregular – t = 1.5 mm – 3mm in size. • Irregular – u = 3 – 10 mm in size.
Round opacity guidelines
- Round – p = up to 1.5 mm in size.
- Round – q = 1.5 – 3 mm in size.
- Round – r = 3 – 10 mm in size.
Irregular opacity guidelines
- Irregular – s = up to 1.5 mm in size.
- Irregular – t = 1.5 mm – 3mm in size.
- Irregular – u = 3 – 10 mm in size.
6 description of large opacities
Diffuse Homogeneous Multifocal Patchy Lobar without Atelectasis Lobar with Atelectasis Perihilar Peripheral
6 description of large opacities
Diffuse Homogeneous Multifocal Patchy Lobar without Atelectasis Lobar with Atelectasis Perihilar Peripheral
Describe guidelines and diseases associated w/ micronodular image description
Corresponds to the “p” opacities
<1.5mm
associated with small number of dx processes.
Diseases include:
Alveolar microlithiasis very rare.
IV Talc injection drug abuse.
Early stage pneumoconiosis seen in coal miners
Mycobacterial, fungal disease, or sarcoidosis
Describe guidelines and disease associated w/ nodular image descriptions
- Nodes up to 1cm in diameter.
- Miliary (looks like millet seeds)
Disease processes included: TB. Sarcoidosis. Fungal Disease. CMV Pneumonias. Measles, Mumps, and Neoplasia.
What are reticular marking on xrays
“Fluffy,” interconnected markings
Correspond to small irregular opacities
What can reticular markings indicate
Honeycombing can indicate end-stage lung disease
What are 2 categories and 3 types of reticular xray patterns
Categories:
Acute
Chronic
Types:
• fine (ground glass)
• medium (irregular)
• course (honeycomb)
Describe honeycomb patterns on xray images and what do they indicate
An array of multilayered, stacked space that commonly collapse w/ expiration
Indicates:
- End-Stage lung disease
- The obliteration of small alveolar sacks that have turned into large sacks
What are the physiologic cause of linear lung markings on xray
Phys cause:
-Most likely d/t thickened interlobular septa
Describe the 3 types of kerley lines
A:
Radiate towards UPPER lodbe
-FROM hilum into lung periphery
B:
- Result from thickening of subpleural interstitium
- in periphery
C:
D/t thickening of the lung parencymal interstitium
What are 3 types of linear marking seen on xray
- interlobular
- Kerley lines (3 types)
- Intralobular
What causes the appearance of Kerley lines
General characteristics of Kerley lines
Increased hydrostatic pressure is the cause in all cases
Characteristics:
- NOT interconnected (like reticular)
- Differ in length and width
What are cause of destructive patterns seen on lung xrays
- Small lungs
- Diffuse consolidation
- Bronchiolectisis
- Honeycombing
- Bullae
- Cysts
- Pulm HTN
What is bronchiolectisis and what does it indicate
Chronic infections
Permanently thick and widened bronchioles
Allows for mucous build up
What are bullae and associated complications
Giant fluid-illed space w/in parenchyma
> 1cm
Rupture = PTX
Characteristics of alveolar patterns on xray
- Appear as “air-space”
- ground-glass opacification
- coalescent opacities,
- air bronchograms.
List some basal lung disease processes
Bronchiextasis aspiration** pneumonia/fibrosis CF asbestos scleroderma RA
List some upper lung zone diseases
TB Fungus Sarcoidosis Pneumoconiosis (coal miners lung) Langerhans cell histiocystosis ankylosing spondylitis CF** Radiation fibrosis
Describe central lung disease and associated disease processes
-Perihilar lung disease
-Disease processes Sarcoidosis lymphoma Karposi's sarcoma** bronchiectasis
List diseases that manifest in the peripheral lung zone
Cryptogenic organizing pna
Asbestosis
Graft v host
COVID-19**
What causes cor pulmonale
RV hypertrophy and diation r/t pulmonary HTN
D/t
- obliterated small peripheral pulm artery branches
- Combined w/ hypoxic vasoconstriction
What does cor pulmonale lead to
pulm HTN
Why is learning to read xrays important to CRNAs
allows you to get a better physiological understanding of what you have to work with after you intubate the patient.
What do atelectasis, pulm HTN, kerly B lines, nodular markings and small___ equal
BAD LUNGS
difficult ventilation
Characteristics of cor pulmonale and what can it lead to
Characteristics:
Very low CO
large heart (>50% of chest)
High SVR
Lead to:
Fluid back-up
Lung compensation to improve O2
Anesthesia implications in pts w/ Cor pulmonale
- Low FRC (VERY low O2 reserve)
- Quicker inhalation uptake (sleep quicker)
- Use of PPV (to inc V/P matching
Anesthetic implications for pts w/ pulmonary edema
- Acute onset (postpone and optimize)
- Surgery could lead to prolong post-op intubation
Intraop treatment for pts w/ pulmonary edema
- Low FRC
- Very low O2 reserve
- Quicker inhalation uptake
- Sleep quicker
- Use of PPV
- To INC V/P matching
Anesthesia implications for pts w/ pulm fibrosis
•Very low FRC Low O2 reserve But good O2 uptake on induction?? •Low peak airway pressures To prevent further damage
Anesthesia considerations for pts w/ PTX
• NO NITROUS (will make PTX bigger)
• 100% FiO2
• Needle decompression
Followed by CT
Anesthesia considerations for pts w/ PNA
Acute–proceed w/ surgery if OR required
Small tidal volumes–keep airway pressures <30
3 primary chest xray views and how they are performed
AP View/image
• The X-ray beams pass through the body from anterior to posterior.
• The pt is usually sitting or lying w/ back against the film plate.
PA View/image
• The X-ray beams pass through the body from posterior to anterior.
• The pt is standing w/ abdomen against the plate and hands on their hips.
Lateral View/image
• The X-ray beam pass through the body from right to left according to convention.
• The pt is standing/sitting w/ his left chest against the plate
• Both arms are lifted into the air
What are some clues that tell the viewer is assessing an AP and PA
AP image
-Scapulas are prominently visible b/c arms are down
PA image:
-Scapula edges are generally only landmark visible b/c arms up
What is divergence
images on xray are falsley larger than the actual tissue imaged
what are some xray modalities and their relative radiation exposure
CT (most)
Fluroscopy (moderate)
Radiography (conventional xray)
What are criteria for pre-op chest x-ray
Based on
- -Physical assessment
- -Clinically r/t the surgical procedures
- -To assess abnormalities found on physical assessment
List some disease processes that may require pre-op chest xray
- Chest mass, advanced COPD, suspected pulmonary edema,
* Tracheal deviation, & aortic aneurysm to list a few.
What is a systemic, methodical approach to interpreting chest xrays
Airway Bones Cardiac silhouette Diaphragm Everything else Foreign bodies
What airway landmarks should be identified on xray
Trachea
–midline
Carina
–At the sternal angle of Lewis
Lung fields
- -symmetric
- -Lung markins to edge of chest
- —Costocondral angle defined
- -Opacification
What “alterations” may be seen on a normal AP chest xray
Can make the heart and vasculature look enlarged
What cardiac landmarks should be identified on chest xray
- Homogenous cardiac silhouette
- –uniform depth = uniform opacity
- Width of the silhouette
- -approx 50-55% of chest width
- Aortic knob
- -More white indicates calcification
- Pulmonary vasculature
- -Indicates healthy hilum
What bone landmarks should be identified on chest xray
- Look for symmetrical clavicles
- -Uneven clavicles = poor position
-Shoulders should be level
- Count 10 ribs
- -indicates good chest expansion
-Vertebral column alignment
What diaphragm structures or landmarks should be identified when assessing on chest xray
Higher right diaphragm
–d/t liver
Look at costophrenic angles
- -Defined = normal
- -Blunted = Pleural effusion
Diaphragm curvature
- -both sides should curve down
- -Flatter diaphragm = chest expansion
Possible gastric bubble
- -under LEFT hemidiaphragm
- -Not always present
What should be considered when assess a CXR for “everything else”
Objects overlying the chest
–ECG leads, pulse ox, cables/wires, hair
Soft tissue artifact
- -Breast tissue
- -Posterior adipose tissue
- -SQ emphysema
What should be considered when assess a CXR for “foreign bodies”
- Central lines
- Coins
- Chest tube
- NGT/OGT
- Endotracheal tube
- Sternal wires
- Bullets or knives
- PM/AICD
Radiologic characteristics of consolidation on CXR
Density to lung field/s
Loss of ascending aorta silhouette
No shifts
Air bronchogram
What is air bronchogram and what does it indicate on CXR
Definition:
Visible air-filled bronchi surrounded by fluid-filled alveoli
Indicates:
Lung consolidation
Dilated airways to consolidated areas?
Radiographic characteristics of pleural effusion on CXR
Fluid accumulates in pleural space
–Typically see defined borders
Blunt costophrenic angles
Lack of identifiable diaphragm
See next question for criteria
Radiologic criteria for pleural effusion include
- Inc density in dependent portion
- costophrenic angle blunting
- unidentifiable diaphragm
What causes atelectasis and key characteristics seen on CXR
Cause:
Loss of air or surfactant in alveoli
Xray has inc density b/c of loss of lung volume
Types of atelectasis (don’t need to know!!)
- Resorptive
- Relaxation
- Adhesive
- Cicatricial
- Round
CXR signs of atelectasis
- Mediastinal shift (TOWARD atelectatic region)
- Elevation of diaphragm
- Crowding of ribs
- Movement of fissures
- Movement of hilum
- Compensatory hyperinflation
- Hemithorax asymmetry
Radiographic characteristics of lung fibrosis on CXR
- Diffuse haziness
- Apical cap thickening
- Blunting of costophrenic angles
- loss of lung volume
- Lung fissure lines no corresponding
Radiographic characteristics of active TB on CXR
Bright circular chest cavitations
Radiographic characteristics of PTX on CXR
- Air in pleural space w/o lung markings
- Atelectatic lung
- Shift of mediastinum AWAY from PTX
- Opposite lung has PROMINENT lung/vascular markings
Hydropneumothorax evidence on cxr
- Air and fluid within the pleural space
- Well defined horizontal fluid line that extends across the hemithorax
Characteristics of lung mass on cxr
- Round or oval
- Sharp/defined margins
- Homogenous density
Characteristics of lung abscess on CXR
-air or fluid filled cavity in lung
Radiographic characteristics of pulmonary edema on CXR
- Bilat
- Diffuse
- Butterfly pattern
- Soft, fluffy lesions
- Air bronchogram
Characteristics of lung blebs on CXR
- Collection of air in the alveolar layer of pleura
- -shows as circular black air markings
- Formed by rupture of alveolar walls
Characteristics of sarcoidosis on CXR
- Enlarged, dense connective tissue at the hilum
- Hilar nodal enlargement
Characteristics of emphysema on CXR
- Hyperinflation
- Hyperlucency
- Low set and flat diaphragm
- Tall/vertical heart
- Barrel shape chest
- Avascular zones
- Extended upper lung fields
Causes of pleural effusion
- CHF
- Cancer Mets
- Pancreatitis
- PE
- Trauma
- Empyema
- Collagen vascular issues (lupus, scleroderma)
- Ovarian tumor (Meigs sx)
- Chylothorax
What is hamptom’s hump/westermarks sign on CXR?
High density areas in the middle of the lung indicating PE and engorged pulm vasculature
Characteristics of CHF on CXR
Cardiac silhouette will be >55% of chest width
May have engorged pulm vasculature
Describe the discovery of xray
1895–Wilhelm Roentgen
Experimenting with e- beams in a glass tube
Noticed that a fluorescent screen in the lab began to glow
Put different objects between the screen and the tube including his hand…
What are four different types of radiation
1. Electromagnetic • From motion of atoms • combine electricity and magnetism 2. Mechanical (slower) • Only travels through substances (not air) 3. Nuclear • Unstable atom nuclei 4. Cosmic (faster) • Sun rays • Almost speed of light
What are the similarities and differences in xray and visible light rays?
Similarities
- Both are EM energy
- Both carried by particles called photons
Differences
-Energy level aka wavelength
Describe xray and radio waves wavelength vs energy level.
Are they visible or not?
Xray: (not visible)
wavelength = shorter
Energy = higher
Radio waves: (not visible)
wavelength = longer
Energy = lower
How is light emitted
Caused by movement of e- between orbits
- Moving particles excite the atom
- The e- “jumps” to higher orbit/energy level
- When e- returns to lower orbit, energy is released in the form of a photon
- This release = light emitted
Describe characteristics of xray photons
Have lots of energy
Pass through most things
Can knock e- away from atoms or send them flying through space
How does the size of an atom correlate to xray absorption
Small atoms:
- e- orbitals are closer and separated by low jumps in energy
- Less energy released
- less likely to absorb xray photons
Large atoms:
- Greater energy differences between orbitals
- More energy released
- More likely to absorb xray photons
Example of small vs large atom tissues and how they are affected by xray photons
small atoms:
ex = soft tissue
less likely to absorb xray photon
not as bright white
large atoms:
ex = bones (Ca++)
more likely to absorb xray photons
brighter white
Describe the mechanics of how the xray machine works
Contains an electrode pair:
-A cathode and an anode
- Machine is surrounded by thick shield
- Xray photons escape machine through window in shield
- Camera on opposite side records pattern of xray photons
Describe the electrode pair in relation to xray machine function
Cathode (NEG) Filament in center Current heats filament (like a fluorescent lamp) Heat causes e- to fly off of filament Releasing energy
Anode (POS)
Positively charged
Made of tungsten
Attracts e- across the tube
Describe how xray cameras record pictures
Camera on opposite side records the pattern of x-ray photons
• Chemical reaction on film
• DARK areas = More light exposure
• LIGHT areas = Less light exposure
• Intensity changes to beam = alter appearance
over/under exposed picture
Describe the difference in darker and lighter areas of exposure on films
DARK areas = More light exposure
Less dense tissues = less photons absorbed
LIGHT areas = Less light exposure
More dense tissue = more photons absorbed