Medical Imaging Flashcards
What two errors can be made in imaging?
Errors of observation, errors of interpretation
How is imaging important to PT?
diagnostics are a tool, not the answer. relate imaging to clinical care
enhances comprehensive exam, guides and informs treatment, improves communication between PT and Dr., PT is direct access
What is a true positive?
test detects something that is really there
What is a false positive?
test detects something that is not really there
What is a true negative?
test detects nothing, and there is nothing there
What is a false negative?
test detects nothing, but there is something there
What is sensitivity?
at test’s ability to identify a true positive
negative test means you definitely don’t have the condition
SNOUT
What is specificity?
test’s ability to identify a true negative
positive test means you definitely have the condition
SPIN
What is an example of a sensitive test?
HIV blood test. have low false negative but can have high false positives
What is an example of a specific test?
home pregnancy test. have low false positives but can have high false negatives
What are advantages of X-ray?
time and cost efficient
non-invasive
low risk
good for screening
What are disadvantages of x-ray?
may be normal when pathology actually exists
What is attenuation?
reduced strength or density of the x-ray beam as it passes through a medium
What is permeability?
ability of xray beam to pass through substance to reach film plate
What is radiodensity?
x-ray absorption capacity based on substance’s composition, density, and thickness
How is radiodensity of an object related to radiodensity of the x-ray?
radiodensity of an object is inversely related to radiodensity (amount of blackening) on the radiograph
high object density results in lower density on film so the object appears whiter
What is a radiolucent substance?
easily penetrated by x-rays (low attenuation)
What is a radiopaque substance?
not easily penetrated by x-rays (high attenuation)
How is air shown on an x-ray? Where is it normally present?
least radiodense substance in the body.
Will show up black on film
normally present in trachea, lungs, stomach, digestive tract
How does fat and water show up on x-ray?
fat appears gray-black on film
water appears gray on film
How does bone, contrast, heavy metals show up on x-ray?
bone appears gray-white
contrast media appears as white outline
heavy metal appears solid white
What does “one view is no view” mean?
at least two views ideally at 90 degree angle to each other, are necessary to visualize an object in three dimensions
radiograph is two dimensional picture of a three dimensional object
What are two photographic qualities of imaging?
density: amount of blackening on radiograph dependent on distance, time, and current
contrast: differences between adjacent tissue densities
What are two geometric (clarity) qualities of imaging?
detail: aka sharpness or resolution; maximized by positioning patient so structure of interest is closest to film plate
distortion: usually occurs due to distance between beam source, patient, and image receptor, and from alignment and positioning issues
What to structures closest to the film plate look like?
they are more sharply defined and are imaged with less size distortion
What is foreshortening
image appears shorter and wider than the actual object or structure
What is magnification
objects or structures further from film appear larger than closer points
How are radiographs named?
named for beam direction relative to patient and patient’s position
What is AP image?
x-rays travel through the patient from an A to P direction: the x-ray tube is in front of patient and the film plate is behind
What is lateral/oblique views?
named for side closer to film plate