EVERYTHING Flashcards

1
Q

T/F:

X ray Uses a single pulse of ionizing radiation

A

True

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
2
Q

XRAY
Good for:
Bad for:

A

Good for: bones and airspaces

Bad for: soft tissue and overlapping structures

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
3
Q

Five basic radiographic densities

A

(a) Air (Darkest)
(b) Fat (Less Dark)
(c) Fluid/Blood/Soft Tissue (Gray)
(d) Bone (White)
(e) Metal/Contrast (Most White)

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
4
Q

XRAY

When would you use an AP chest

A

Used if patient is unable to stand or sit for a PA view

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
5
Q

T/F:
CT
Uses multiple pulses (“shots”) of ionizing radiation

A

True

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
6
Q

CT

What are the three views

A

(a) Sagittal or Median
(b) Coronal
(c) Axial or Transverse or Cross-sectional

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
7
Q

MRI

Does MRI use ionizing radiation

A

No exposure to ionizing radiation, but time consuming

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
8
Q

MRI
Good for:
Bad for:

A

Good for: Soft tissue (nerves, muscles, connective tissue, brain, joints).
Bad for: People who cannot hold still or have ferrous metal in the body.

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
9
Q

MRI

What are the three views

A

(a) Sagittal or Median
(b) Coronal
(c) Axial or Transverse or Cross-sectional

Same as CT

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
10
Q

US

Does US use ionizing radiation

A

No radiation, but can’t go very deep

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
11
Q

US
Good for:
Bad for:

A

Good for: Determining fluid vs solids, abdominopelvic imaging (gallbladder, kidneys,
uterus, testis), assessing blood flow (Doppler).
Bad for: Things under bones (chest) and air filled chambers, deep things

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
12
Q

US

What are the two views

A

Longitudinal (same as sagittal)

Transverse (same as axial)

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
13
Q

What are the 6 things that you must confirm during the pre-read

A

(a) Image is from the correct patient
(b) Image is from the correct date
(c) Image is the correct body part
(d) Image is the correct type
(e) Image has the number of views expected
(f) Check to see if any comparison films exist

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
14
Q

How do you assess technical adequacy

A
  1. Rotation
    a. Look at the clavicles relative to the vertebral column
  2. Inspiration
    b. Should be able to count 9-10 ribs
  3. Penetration
    (a) Should see the ribs through the heart
    (b) Should barely see the spine through
    the heart
    (c) Should see pulmonary vessel near the edges of the lungs (lungs should not be completely black).
    1) Over-penetrated film
    a) Lung fields almost completely black
    b) Suggests pneumothorax
    2) Under-penetrated film
    a) Soft tissue structures are obscured
    b) Image appears bright suggesting consolidation (like a pneumonia).
How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
15
Q

What are the ABCDE’s of reading a CXR

A

(a) A- Airways/Airspaces
(b) B- Bones/Soft Tissue
(c) C- Cardiac Shadow
(d) D- Diaphragm
(e) E- Everything else

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
16
Q

How do you measure the cardiac silhouette

A

(a) The transverse diameter of the silhouette should NOT exceed 50% of the transverse diameter of the thoracic cage, called cardiothoracic ratio (only applies to PA film).
1) AP films magnify the heart
2) Shallow inspiration makes the heart horizontal and larger
(b) Cardiac borders (moguls):
1) Upper right border: Superior vena cava
2) Lower right border: Right atrium
3) Left border (from the top):
a) Aortic arch
b) Pulmonary arteries
c) Left atrial appendage
d) Left ventricle

17
Q

What are the OTTAWA rules for ankles

A

(a) Has pain in the “malleolar” zone AND
(b) Has bone tenderness at the posterior edge (6cm) of the lateral or medial malleolus
OR
(c) Inability to bear weight both immediately after the injury and for four steps in the
evaluation room.
1) If the patient can transfer weight twice to each foot, the patient can bear weight.
2) If the patient limps, the patient can bear weight.

18
Q

What are the OTTAWA rules for acute foot pain

A

(1) Ottawa Rules
(2) Foot series is indicated if:
(a) Has pain in the “midfoot” region AND
(b) Has bone tenderness at the base of the 5th metatarsal or the navicular OR
(c) Inability to bear weight both immediately after the injury and for four steps in the evaluation room.
1) If the patient can transfer weight twice to each foot, the patient can bear weigh.
2) If the patient limps, the patient can bear weight.

19
Q

What are the OTTAWA rules for knee pain

A

(a) Age >55 year old*
(b) Isolated tenderness of the patella (with no other bony tenderness to the knee).*
(c) Tenderness at the head of the fibula.
(d) Inability to flex the knee to 90 degrees.*
(e) Inability to bear weight both immediately after the injury and for four steps in the evaluation room (limping is allowed).*
(f) Ottawa knee rules are for bony injuries.
(g) If you suspect ligamentous injury, MRI is the preferred imaging.*
(h) Immobilize while awaiting further evaluation.
(i) If plain radiographs are negative and you still suspect bony fracture, consider CT.

20
Q

When would you consider imaging for headaches

A

(1) Consider imaging if:
(a) Associated with head/neck trauma
(b) New, worse or new features, or abrupt onset headache
(c) Focal neurologic signs or symptoms
(d) Thunderclap headache (sudden, severe)
(e) Headache radiating to the neck
(f) Persistent positional headache
(g) Temporal headache in older than 55 years of age
(h) Suspect infection
1) Associated with cough, exertion, or sexual activity
(2) CT is preferred for trauma, to rule out hemorrhage, bone abnormalities, or prior to lumbar punctures.
(3) MRI is preferred for soft tissue causes such as tumors, or vascular.

21
Q

What are common fractures seen on orthopedic xrays

A

(1) Oblique- has angulated fracture line*
(2) Transverse- runs perpendicular to the shaft of the bone
(3) Spiral- has a multiplanar and complex fracture line*
(4) Overriding-one bone is displaced over the other
(5) Distraction - fragments are separated by a gap
(6) Torus - looks like a bump classified as incomplete fracture seen in children*
(7) Greenstick - fractures by bending like a green twig classified as incomplete fracture seen in children.*
(8) Comminuted - have more than two fracture fragments

22
Q

In general, imaging should confirm a ____

(a) It should not be a ______

A

In general, imaging should confirm a suspicion.

(a) It should not be a “fishing expedition”

23
Q

For suspicion of stress fractures, what are the three things to keep in mind

A

(1) X-rays may be normal initially
(2) Bone scan can show abnormalities before X-ray findings
(3) Consider CT or MRI

24
Q

3 reasons for getting shoulder imaging

A

(1) Traumatic cause
(2) Presence of pain
(3) Loss of range of motion

25
Q

4 things plain films will be able to identify on shoulder imaging

A

(a) Fractures
(b) Dislocations
(c) Arthritis
(d) Acromioclavicular (AC) joint or Sternoclavicular (SC) joint injuries

26
Q

Which modality is preferred for labral, ligamentous or rotator cuff injuries. (shoulder)

A

MRI

27
Q

The elbow is made up of which three articulations

A

(a) Radiohumeral - capitellum of the humeus with the radial head
(b) Ulnohumeral - trochlea of the humerus with the trochlear notch of the ulna
(c) Radioulnar - Radial head with the radial notch of the ulna (proximal radioulnar
joint)

28
Q

How are dislocations of the elbow named

A

Dislocations of the elbow are named for the direction the radius and ulna dislocate
relative to the humerus.

29
Q

ELBOW:
Which modality is best for assessing tendons and ligaments, to include injuries to the ulnar collateral ligament (baseball pitchers) or lateral epicondylitis (tennis elbow).

A

MRI

30
Q

BACK PAIN

Imaging is not indicated in the first ____ weeks

A

4-6wks