Imaging

Question 1

How is a sagittal picture taken?

Answer 1

nose points to the left of the screen (because the whole body is facing that way)

Question 2

how is an axial picture taken?

Answer 2

looking up from the feet

Question 3

how is a coronal picture taken?

Answer 3

looking at the patient’s face

Question 4

how is an AP picture taken? a PA?

Answer 4

X-rays enter the front of the patient and exit out the back to the sensor

x-rays enter the back of the patient and exit out the front

Question 5

what is correct positioning?

Answer 5

the spinous processes are midway between the two heads of the clavicles

Question 6

In a (AP/PA) view, the heart is close to normal size. In a (AP/PA) view, the heart is larger than normal. What accounts for this difference?

Answer 6

PA, AP
In the AP view, the heart is further away from the sensor so it is magnified as opposed to in the PA view where the heart is quite close to the sensor.

Question 7

what is the cardio-thoracic ratio?

Answer 7

<50% (pathology is suspected if higher)

*measure transverse diameter

Question 8

what is the thin line seen to the right of a heart in an AP radiograph?

Answer 8

horizontal fissure of the right lung (two layers of pleura)

Question 9

what is the standard tube to film distance? what is it for portable radiographs?

Answer 9

6 feet

40 inches

Question 10

what is lucency on a radiograph?

Answer 10

an area more transparent to xrays but appears dark on the image. (ex. air pockets)

Question 11

what is opacity on a radiograph?

Answer 11

an area that decreases in intensity, therefor looks white and bright on the image (ex. bone)

Question 12

what is density on a radiograph?

Answer 12

an object that BLOCKS light on an xray

Question 13

define a radiologic edge:

Answer 13

a boundary between two different densities such that the transition is sharp (ex. bone and soft tissue)

Question 14

define a radiologic line:

Answer 14

a visible opacity that is contrasted against more lucent areas on BOTH sides (can be reversed) (ex. horixontal fissure)

Question 15

what is a sillouette sign?

Answer 15

the loss of a normal anatomic border because the normal structure (or abnormal like a tumor! think sail sign!) of similar opacity is in the way.

Question 16

what is horner syndrome?

Answer 16

extension of neoplasm into the sympathetic chain ganglia

Question 17

what are the symptoms of horner’s syndrome?

Answer 17

ptosis, miosis and anhidrosis

Question 18

the SVC and the lung share a line or edge? Why?

Answer 18

an edge. The SVC is filled with blood. The lung is filled with air.

Question 19

the trachea and the lung share a line or edge? why?

Answer 19

A line. both are filled with air.

Question 20

In an air bronchogram where is contrast injected? what does is allow you to see?

Answer 20

in the lung alveoli (makes it opaque)

allows you to see any fluid or soft-tissue surrounding the air-filled bronchus

Question 21

fluid in the alveoli indicate what?

Answer 21

infection

pulmonary edema

Question 22

what is the directoin of the posterior ribs? Anterior and lateral ribs are in what direction?

Answer 22

horizontal; diagonal

Question 23

a coin in the trachea is in what plane on a radiograph? in the esophagus?

Answer 23

in the trachea: sagittal plane

in the esophagus: coronal plane (flat and facing you)

Question 24

If you want to see all of the branches of the aorta? what view do you want to see?

Answer 24

a Left Anterior Oblique

Question 25

If you want to see the esophagus in a barium swallow, what radiogrph view do you want?

Answer 25

a right anterior oblique

Question 26

What is the space between the aorta and pulmonary artery?

Answer 26

the aorticopulmonary notch

Question 27

what are the two places in the body where you will see air mixed with liquid contents?

Answer 27

in the stomach and the colon

Question 28

where does the aorta usually break?

Answer 28

right where the ligamentum arteriosum attaches: between the end of the arch and the descending aorta