Interpretation Of Lab

Question 1

What should you do first when you are looking at a scan for a patient?

Answer 1

Verify Name on Study is Pt Name
Verify Time/Date of Study
Verify if you have Correct Study/X-Ray

Question 2

When doing X-rays, how many views do you want?

Answer 2

Plain and orthogonal view (90 degrees other image)

Question 3

What are five relevant objects we will see on x-ray, from least dense to most dense?

Answer 3

Air (black)
Fat
Soft tissue
Bone
Metal (very bright)

Question 4

What type of X-ray do we want for a chest view?

Answer 4

More than likely a PA view

-AP distorts heart field

Question 5

What is order to look at X-ray?

Answer 5

Airway
Bones (any fractures)
Cardiac (enlarged or normal size?)
Diaphragm (any fluid build up?)

Question 6

When is chest X-ray indicated for use?

Answer 6

It is one of more commonly ordered
-excellent to evaluate lungs, which appear black

Most abnormalities will appear gray

Question 7

Is an X-ray indicated for use for the abdomen?

Answer 7

It’s more hard to see organs, can really only see them if surraounded by fat

However, can see calcification and metal on radiograph

Question 8

What does it mean when intestines abnormally dilated?

Answer 8

Probably a bowel obstruction

Question 9

Are kidney stones easily seen on x-ray?

Answer 9

Yes, are a bright, dense Foci

Question 10

What is most common use for radiograph?

Answer 10

BONES
-x-rays are great for bone path

Outer cortex is more dense than inner, so any disruptions are easily seen

Question 11

Units for CT

Answer 11

Hounds field Units (HU)=absorption value of x-ray beam assigned to tissue

Air=-800HU
Fat=-70HU
Water=0HU
Bone=+800HU

Question 12

CT Angiography

Answer 12

CT Scan w IV Contrast

Similar to conventional but:

• less invasive
• similar use of radiation and IV contrast

Question 13

Cons of CT angiography

Answer 13

Needs faster scanner and faster IV injection rate (means larger needle)

Question 14

When is MRI used?

Answer 14

Soft Tissue

-ligamentous, meniscal, muscle

Question 15

T1 vs T2 MRI

Answer 15

Water is black on T1, but in T2 water is (t)TOO BRIGHT

Question 16

Advantages of MRI

Answer 16

Greater diff of soft tissues
Can be acquired in any plan
Can study w/o contrast

Question 17

Cons of MRI

Answer 17

Longer wait time

Very sensitive to motion artifact

Question 18

Advantages of Ultrasound

Answer 18

No radiation
Can be used in any plane
Cheap
Performed on sick patients
Can provide real time imaging of heart, fetus

Question 19

Disadvantages of US

Answer 19

Less sharp image
More time than CT
Highly variable depending on operator
Deeper structures (bone, lung) not well seen

Question 20

Concerns about imagining of a pregnant women

Answer 20

CT is generally okay
-<50mGy (no effect)

MRI
-potential for fetal and amniotic fluid heating

Contrast agents
-iodine, oral contrast, and gadolinium not recommended

Question 21

What is safe and dangerous limits of mGy depending on gestational age?

Answer 21

Only issues if about 100mGy

0-2=none
3-4=spontaneous abortion
5-10=possible congenital malformation
11-17=possible IQ defects
18-27=IQ defect
>27=none

Question 22

CBC

Answer 22

Complete blood count of all WBCs in blood

Question 23

CBC w/diff

Answer 23

Measures total number of white blood cells in blood as well as gives actual number of each type of those cells

Question 24

BMP ($12)

Answer 24

Chem7

-Na, K, Cl, Glucose, Creatinine, BUN, CO2

Question 25

CMP ($15-20)

Answer 25

Chem12 (BMP, LFTs, Mg, PO4, Ca)
-Na, K, Cl, Glucose, Creatinine, BUN, CO2

And

AST, ALT, Alk Phos, Bilirubin, Amylase, lipase, Ca, Mg, PO4

Question 26

What should you always order if woman is having pain in RLQ and LLQ?

Answer 26

Pregnancy test

-cheap, and easy to rule out