Radiographic Imaging Flashcards
X-Rays
Darker, less stuff, lighter, more stuff
AP/PA
AP (Anterior-posterior) and PA (Posterior-Anterior)
Front to back and vise versa, good for evaluating scoliosis
Lateral right/ left
Side view, used to evaluate spinal curve
Oblique
Slant, used to assess facet joints and neural foramina
Flexion/ Extension
Assess spinal instability/ spinal fusion
Swimmers
C6,C7 and C7-T1 can be examined with one arm held over head
Cross-table cervical lateral
Hard to spot C2 fractures
Open mouth
C1+C2 easier to see in AP w/ mouth open
Fluoroscopy
C army, easy and simple but lots of Radiation
CT Scans
Combine many x Rays to create cross sectional view
- high doses of radiation
- good for guided surgery
MRI
Magnetic Resonance Imaging
- non invasive, combines radio waves and strong magnetic field, helps get view of soft tissues
- RF applied, then relaxation, RF terminated atoms give off energy
T1 MRI
Longitudinal relaxation time (fat appears better)
T2 MRI
horizontal relaxation time
T1 weighted
Accentuates fatty tissues, good for herniated disks and spinal stenosis
T2 weighted
Better for water combining tissues, cerebrospinal spinal fluid or blood
STIR
Short Tau inversion recovery; MRI with imaging acquisition, good for fractures
Disks in MRI
Dark disks in T2 or bright in T1 are abnormal/ injured
Sagittal T2 MRI
Best for surgical planning
Myelogram
Dye injected into spinal canal, lets it show up on CT Scan
Discogram
Injected in to symptomatic disk for better viewing
Bone Scans
Injects radioactive isotope to reveal fractures
