Radiologic Evaluation Diagnostics Flashcards
ABCs of radiologic analysis
Alignment
Bone density
Cartilage spaces
Soft tissues
normal alignment to look at
articulation
spatial relationship
abnormal alignment to look at
fx
dislocation
subluxation
normal bone density should look like
sufficient contrast
bone & soft tissue separation
density within the bone
abnormal bone density to look for
loss of bone density
thinning/absence cortical margin
abnormal textural bone density
fluffy, thin, delicate, coarsened, smudged
abnormal local bone density changes
osteophytes, excessive sclerosis, reactive sclerosis
abnormal cartilage spaces
decreased spaces
increased sclerosis, erosion
abnormal soft tissues to look at
wasting, swelling of muscles
blurring, displaced fat pads & fat lines
joint capsules distension
observe reactions of periosteum
foreign bodies, gas bubbles radiolucent, calcifications radiopaque of miscellaneous soft tissue findings
errors of observation
related to search patterns
errors of interpretations
related to poor ability to link clinical presentation to radiologic findings
error reduction
interdisciplinary communication, especially with radiologist
monostatic/monoarticular
affects only 1 bone/joint
polystotic/polyarticular
affects multiple bones/joints
diffuse
affects nearly all bones or joints
