*Radiology Flashcards
MOST SUSCEPTIBLE
organs to cancer induction
- bone marrow
- colon
- lung
- stomach
MOST COMMON CANCERS TO
METASTASIZE TO THE FOOT
- breast
- prostate
- lung
- kidney
Moderately susceptible
organs to cancer induction
- bladder
- breast
- liver
- esophagus
- thyroid
are children or adults more susceptible to cancer induction from radiation?
children
because children have more cells that are growing and dividing rapidly, their organs and tissues are growing, and they have a longer lifespan ahead of them, giving cancers more time to develop.
ALARA
“As Low as Reasonably Achievable”
for radiation protection, minimize the imaging doses when possible
radiation protection
methods
- ALARA - “as low as reasonably achievable”
- Exposed personnel monitored by film badge
- lead shielding and increasing distance from the source
- shielding within the room
difference in level of ionization between:
radiographs and CT
CT has much higher level of radiation than radiograph
general position for x-rays
- weight-bearing
- angle and base of gait
- Feet ABducted 15 degrees
- Medial malleoli 2” apart
Kilovoltage peak
(kVp)
contrast or gray scale
increasing kVp → more penetrating x-ray w/ increased latitute, shorter exposure time, less x-ray tube heat
increasing kVp = less exposure to patient
milliamperage (mA)
Quantity / Density
- controls quantity or amount of x-ray emitted from the x-ray tube
- *most important factor controlling radiographic density
reduce radiation exposure by reducing mA
exposure factor:
distance
fidelity
- fidelity: true size/shape of original object)
- to achieve maximum fidelity, distance of object to film must be kept to a minimum
small focal spot (decreased distance) = better detail
Compton effect
occurs when x-ray photon interacts w/ an outer shell electron
occurs mostly above 80 kVp
causes less radiation to patient and is detrimental to image
grid
composed of alternating strips of lead and aluminum spacers to control, by absorbing, scatter radiation
collimation
method of limiting the area of an xray beam, which by law cannot exceed film size
light beam from collimator maps the area of the x-ray beam
photoelectric effect
occurs at lower kVp when an xray collides with a lower shell electron
the electron is ejected and another higher shell electron fills its space, releasing energy
photoelectric effect is beneficial to image, but results in greater absorption of radiation of patient
orthoposer
the platform that enables weight-bearing images of the foot and ankle to be obtained
x-ray film or image receptors on the orthoposer can lie flat or be placed vertically
hard x-rays
produced by increased kVp
- higher energy (photon energies above 5-10 kVp)
- short-wavelength
- high frequency
- increased penetration
- less dangerous to the patient
soft x-rays
produced by decreased kVp
- long-wavelength
- low frequency
- low penetration
- lower energy
- more dangerous to patient
difference b/w CR and DR
- Computed radiography (CR) - uses a reusable CR-specific cassette instead of standard x-ray film; image on cassette is run through the CR reader, where the image is scanned into digital format
- Digital radiography (DR) - transfers the x-ray directly into a digital signal
what determines film speed?
what does film speed affect?
size of the silver bromide (AgBr) crystals
larger the size of the AgBr crystals → the thicker the emulsion layer
faster the film → darker the image
x-ray machine requirements
(vary by state)
- dead-man type exposure switch w/6-foot cord
-
machines < 70 kVp do not need 1-2 degree barriers or special lead-lined rooms
- the majority of podiatric x-rays are taken below 70 kVp
- lead aprons, gloves, and goggles are 0.25 mm thick
- gonadal shields 0.5 mm lead equivalent
relative radiographic densities
from highest density → lowest
cortex - cancellous - muscle - nerve - tendon - ligament - subq - fat - air
order from LEAST to MOST dense:
tendon, muscle, ligament, nerve, sub q
- subQ (least dense)
- ligament
- tendon
- nerve
- muscle
DP
foot position
- central ray aimed at 2nd met-cuneiform joint
- 15° from vertical
when examining foot for a foreign body, this view may be taken perpendicular for better spatial location
Lateral
foot position
- medial side of foot against film
- central ray aimed at cuboid
- tube is 90° from vertical
NWB Medial Oblique
foot position
- center beam at 3rd metatarsocuneiform joint
- angle the foot 45° w/ the medial side of the foot on the image receptor
NWB Lateral Oblique
foot position
- central ray aimed at 1st metatarsocuneiform joint
- angle the foot 45° w/ the lateral side of the foot on the receptor
Stress Lateral /
Stress Dorsiflexion
foot position
- position patient for lateral, but then have patient flex knees and maximally dorsiflex ankle
- *(aim at cuboid w/ medial side of foot against film)
- demonstrates any anterior ankle impingement (osseous equinus)
Plantar Axial
foot position
- head angled at 90° to the vertical
- central beam aimed at plantar aspect of the sesamoids
- toes dorsiflexed against film and then raise heel
- positioning device may aid in taking this picture
*good view of sesamoids and plantar aspect of metatarsal heads
Harris-Beath
(SKI-Jump)
foot position
- patient stands on film w/ knees and ankles flexed 15-20°
- first, take a scout lateral film and determine the declination angle of the posterior facet of the STJ
- then, take 3 views: one at the angle determined by lateral film, one 10° above, and one 10° below
- (some advocate 3 arbitrary views at 35, 40, and 45 degrees)
good view of both the sesamoids and plantar aspect of metatarsal heads?
plantar axial view
good view for posterior and middle STJ coalitions?
Harris-Beath view
good view for assessing middle and posterior STJ facets
Calcaneal Axial view
Calcaneal Axial
foot position
- central ray aimed at posterior aspect of calcaneus
- angle central beam at 45°
Examines calcaneus for fractures, abnormalities in shape, or internal fixation in major tarsal fusions
Also a good view for assessing middle and posterior STJ facets
ISHERWOOD views
foot position
- 3 positions to fully visualize the STJ
- Includes:
- Oblique plantardorsal view → visualize anterior facet
- Medial oblique axial → visualize middle facet
- Lateral oblique axial → visualize posterior facet
Isherwood view 1:
Oblique plantardorsal view
Visualize Anterior facet of STJ
- foot is positioned the same as for a NWB medial oblique x-ray
- central ray aimed b/w fibular malleolus and cuboid
Isherwood view 2:
Medial Oblique Axial
Visualize Middle facet of STJ
- foot adducted 30° from image receptor
- dorsiflex and invert the foot using a sling
- central ray aimed b/w fibular malleolus and cuboid
- tube head angled 10° cephalad
Isherwood view 3:
Lateral Oblique Axial
visualizes Posterior facet of STJ
- foot ABducted 30° from image receptor
- dorsiflex and evert the foot using sling
- central ray b/w tibial malleolus and navicular tuberosity
- tube head angled 10° cephalad
Stress Inversion
(talar tilt)
assess lateral ligamentous injury, specifically the ATFL and CFL
- position same as ankle AP view
- Examiner wears lead gloves
- stabilize lower leg w/ one hand while forcefully inverting foot w/ other hand
Stress Inversion
indication and positive
- indicated to assess lateral ligamentous injury, specifically of the ATFL and CFL
- performed after ankle inversion sprains;
- may need to anesthetize foot for pain relief and to relax foot
- (common peroneal block)
Positive if greater than 10°, or if the talar tilt is 5° greater than the unaffected ankle
Anterior Drawer
(push-pull stress)
foot position
- pt is supine or sitting w/ leg in lateral position; stabilize leg w/ one hand and place anterior dislocating force on the foot w/ the other hand
- central ray aimed at medial malleolus
Anterior Drawer
(push-pull stress)
purpose and positive value
- taken following ankle trauma to assess the ATFL
- good visualization of the tibial plafond and medial space b/w medial malleolus and body of talus
- lateral space b/w lateral malleolus and talus cannot be visualized
- Positive test: 6 mm or greater gap b/w posterior lip of tibia and the nearest part of the talar dome
Ankle AP
- foot positioned straight ahead
- central beam parallel to the floor and aimed b/w malleoli
- good visualization of the tibial plafond and medial space b/w the lateral malleolus and talus, may not be visualized
Lateral Ankle
- medial side of foot against film
- central beam parallel to floor aimed at center of the ankle
- good for trochlear surface of talus and its articulation with the tibia and fibula
medial oblique ankle
- leg internally rotated 45° from the central beam
- medial side of foot against cassette
- central beam parallel to floor aimed at center of the ankle
- good view of tibiofibular syndesmosis