Principles of Radiography Flashcards

1
Q

What is teleradiology?

A

Sharing images with other radiologists and physicians.

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2
Q

When are radiographs not useful and why?

A

When fluid and soft tissue structures present - they look the same/are the same radiographic density.

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3
Q

Name 8 Roentgen signs?

A
  1. Number
  2. Location
  3. Size
  4. Margination
  5. Radiopacity
  6. Internal architecture
  7. Function
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4
Q

If an animal has fluid in its thorax and is struggling to breath, what position do we not want them in?

A

Sternal recumbency

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5
Q

Name three types of restraint methods for radiography?

A
  1. sedation
  2. general anaesthesia
  3. positioning aids.
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6
Q

Should animals be manually restrained for radiography?

A

No, except in exceptional circumstances!

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7
Q

When would sedation be viable?

A

For thoracic and abdominal radiography and maybe some MSK studies where GA would be undesirable.

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8
Q

What two things are important in sedated, sick patients?

A

Oxygenation and careful monitoring.

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9
Q

Name three scenarios where general anaesthesia would be commonly used?

A
  1. Most MSK studies e.g. fractures
  2. Good quality, inspiratory thoracic radiographs
  3. Most contrast studies (not needed for oral barium
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10
Q

If radiographing the spine, why is it better to use GA?

A

Because the patient needs to be completely still.

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11
Q

How can movement blue be minimised?

A

Correct use of the machine and equipment.

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12
Q

What is needed to reduce movement blur and why?

A

Movement blur is related to time (MAs) therefore need to increase the MAs and reduce the time.

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13
Q

What are the two types of movement blur?

A

Voluntary e.g. muscle and limb movement in a conscious animal.

Involuntary movement e.g. breathing.

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14
Q

How will most large animals be radiographed?

A

Standing with sedation.

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15
Q

Name a body area in large animals that will probably require general anaesthesia?

A

The pelvis.

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16
Q

Name three things included in a good radiograph?

A
  1. accurate portrayal
  2. easy perception e.g. sharp shadows and a wide range of shades of grey
  3. no misleading artefacts.
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17
Q

To maintain consistent results with radiography, what is needed?

A

Standardisation of the technique.

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18
Q

What are the standard views used for radiography?

A

2 orthogonal views at least (right angles to each other)

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19
Q

What are the routine radiographic views for the thorax?

A

RLR (Right laterla recumbency) and DV.

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20
Q

What views would be used for a lung metastasis screen?

A

RLR, LLR, and DV or VD

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21
Q

What views would be used specifically for lung pathology?

A

RLR (+LRL) and VD

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22
Q

Which views would be used for the abdomen?

A

RLR or LLR and VD.

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23
Q

Which views would be used for the pelvis or the spine?

A

RLR or LRL and VD

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24
Q

Which views would be used for the limbs?

A

Mediolateral and CrCd/ CdCr/ DP/PD

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25
Q

Which views would be used for the skull?

A

RLR or LLR and DV

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26
Q

What are the 4 common joints to be radiographed in the horse?

A
  1. fetlock
  2. hock
  3. stifle
  4. carpus
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27
Q

Would you only do two orthogonal views in the horse and why?

A

No, you would do more than two orthogonal views because the horse is so much bigger.

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28
Q

How many views would you standardly do in the equine limb?

A

4

29
Q

What would these 4 views be in the horse distal limb?

A
  1. lateromedial
  2. DP/PD
  3. 2 x 4 degree oblique angle
30
Q

What are the two common oblique views taken in horses?

A

Dorso-Lateral-Plantaro-Medial-Oblique (DLPMO)

Dorso-Medial-Plantaro-Lateral -Oblique (DMPLO)

31
Q

What do we need the animal to do before an abdominal radiograph?

A

Try and starve the animal 24 hours before an abdominal radiograph and allow to urinate/ defecate before imaging.

32
Q

For thorax and limbs, how much pre-starvation will the animal require?

A

12 hours is fine, but for abdomen, 24 hours is preferential.

33
Q

What do we need to make sure in terms of the area of interest and why?

A

Position the area of interest as close to the cassette as possible. want to minimise distortion and magnification.

34
Q

What angle does the part of interest need to be to the cassette?

A

Parallel to the cassette.

35
Q

What happens to the x-ray bean as it leaves the x-ray tube?

A

It diverges and magnification occurs.

36
Q

What do we need in order to minimise the amount of magnification?

A

Minimum object-film distance (OFD), maximum film-object distance (FOD).

37
Q

What two reasons do we get object distortion?

A

If the site of interest is not parallel to the beam.

if the site of interest is not central in the beam.

38
Q

What can be the 3 results of object distortion?

A

Object elongation, foreshortening, out of position

39
Q

Where does the centre of the beam have to be?

A

In the middle of the casette and in the middle of the area of interest.

40
Q

Why is it always best to use standard positioning first?

A

Because this enables comparisons e.g. textbooks.

41
Q

Where do we look to determine if there is axial rotation?

A

The dorsocaudal ribcage.

42
Q

What should we see if there is no axial rotation and good positioning?

A

The dorsocaudal rib cage should be superimposed.

43
Q

Where do we want the centre beam and why?

A

To be centred over the area of interest because the X-ray will be vertical in the centre, if not, this will be misleading.

44
Q

Name two disadvantages of scatter?

A

It contributes to general radio-opacity and is a health hazard.

45
Q

Why is collimation important?

A

Because it reduces scatter.

46
Q

How should we collimate joints?

A

Should include 1/3 of the adjacent bone.

47
Q

For long bones, how should we collimate?

A

We should collimate the whole of the long bone, including two joints - one above and one below.

48
Q

When we assess collimation, what are we looking for?

A

we are looking for four unexposed borders. This tells us that the radiation has not gone off the side of the plate.

49
Q

How is collimation described?

A

25% for each border e.g. if all 4 borders are unexposed, this is 100% collimated.

50
Q

Why is digital imaging an issue when assessing collimation?

A

Because it is not possible to judge collimation when there is an application of automatic black borders on digital imaging.

51
Q

What is the next stage for assessing collimation?

A

Decide the % and then describe how closely correlated to the image e.g. close or wide.

52
Q

What is the rule about detecting exposure from the viasual appraisal of a digital image?

A

You cannot tell whether the image is under or over-exposed.

53
Q

What do you need to avoid?

A

‘exposure creep’ where the exposure slowly creeps up.

54
Q

What affects the NUMBER of x-rays produced?

A

Kv, Ma and time.

55
Q

Which affects the PENETRATING power of the x-rays?

A

KV

56
Q

If you have an under-exposed image, what do you need to do?

A

Increase Kv

57
Q

How does the thickness of the animal influence the scatter of radiation?

A

The thicker the animal, the more radiation.

58
Q

What is a grid?

A

It is alternating strips of lead and plastic which filter x-ray photons which are not travelling vertically/ in a forward direction.

59
Q

When do you use grids?

A

In body regions thicker than 10-15cm

60
Q

What determines how much scatter radiation is filtered?

A

the width and height of the strips

61
Q

Which part of the beam is travelling vertically?

A

Only the centre of the beam

62
Q

What do you need to make sure you do if you are using a grid and why?

A

Need to take into account the grid factor e.g. increase the MAs by 2-3x. This is because some of the primary beam will be absorbed by the grid.

63
Q

Why do we only use a grid if it is going to be useful?

A

Because there needs to be increased MAs used which will decrease the image quality and more of a health and safety risk.

64
Q

What are the three things that have to be set-up correctly when using a grid?

A

Has to be in the centre of the x-ray beam, has to be the correct way up, has to be the correct film-focal distance.

65
Q

When do we want to take a thoracic radiograph?

A

At the time of inspiration.

66
Q

Where does the diaphragm meet the spine?

A

T10-T11.

67
Q

What labels should always be used on the image?

A

The patient and date should be in the system already. Should ALWAYS use side markers on the image.

68
Q

Name three common artefacts seen on radiographs?

A

Sandbags
Troughs
Driplines

69
Q

When should you take your radiograph of the thorax and why?

A

Expiratory pause because this is when the diaphragm is foward therefore will show the whole of the diaphragm.