Radiology

Question 1

Xray

Answer 1

Uses ionizing radiation to knock electrons off of things

-good for radiography, fluoroscopy (real-time visualization , CT

(CXR, mammography, KUB, skull, bones, spine

Question 2

CT advantages

Answer 2

• More density discrimination
• Can do x-section
• Functional info
• Less invasive
• Higher resolution
• Faster (better for critical pt)

Question 3

Nuclear Medicine

Answer 3

Gamma rays
-evaluates function rather than structure using radioactive tracer
-Therapies for Thyroid cancers (rad I)
Ex= PET

Question 4

PET

Answer 4

Uses FDG (glucose analogue) 
-looks for things that take up a lot of glucose (like cancer)

Question 5

Ultrasound

Answer 5

Uses sound waves below the threshold of human hearing

• safe, noninvasive, cheap, visualizes motion
• based on technician skill, does not penetrate bone or air, lots of artifacts

Question 6

MRI

Answer 6

Uses rotating protons (no-ionizing radiation)

Question 7

Advantages of MRI

Answer 7

• Can use any plane of section
• Bone does not obscure image
• can visualize soft tissue

Best method for brain and spine scans

Question 8

disadvantages/contraindications of MRI

Answer 8

low signal areas (lungs)
claustrophobia
incompatable with metal implants (pacemakers, cochlear implants, etc) 
artifacts
pt movement difficult

Question 9

Dobhoff tube

Answer 9

NEEDS to be below EG junction, in duodenum

Type of feeding tube

if they end up in the trachea pull it and repeat CXR

Question 10

NG tube

Answer 10

must be in both parts of stomach (not used for feeding) Pushes gas out of stomach

if they end up in trachea, pull out and repeat CXR

Question 11

ETT

Answer 11

5-7 cm above carina in an adult (at clavicular head)

bad if in esophagus

Question 12

PIC/IF/SCV

Answer 12

Goes in mid superior vena cava

Question 13

Aortic balloon cath

Answer 13

Tip at aortic arch

Question 14

Chest drains

Answer 14

both ports in chest, basal and post for effusion anterior and apic for ptx

-bad if in liver, spleen or mediastinum

Question 15

pulmonary artery cath

Answer 15

main pulmonary artery

Question 16

Subdural hematomas

Answer 16

Venous
Crescent shaped
crosses sutures
generally chronic 
urgent not emergent

Question 17

Epidural hematoma

Answer 17

arterial
lens/football shaped
limited by sutures
medical emergency

Question 18

Checklist for Lateral Spinal Radiographs

Answer 18

1) 3 lines of alignment (ant body, post body, laminospinal junction line)
2) appropriate number of vertebrae
3) uniformity of body heights
4) uniformity of IV space height
5) Osseous density

Question 19

Checklist for A/P Spinal Radiographs

Answer 19

Vertebral alignment 
Uniformity of body heights 
uniformity of IV space height 
osseous density 
pedicles, SPs, TPs, Facet joints

Question 20

“Scotty Dog” view of posteriorlateral lumbar spine

Answer 20

ears= superior articular process 
eyes=pedicle 
neck= pars interarticularis 
body of dog=lamina/SP
legs= inferior articular processes

Question 21

Spondylolysis

Answer 21

breakage of Dog’s neck, i.e. pars interarticularis **uniliateral so vertebrae do not move

Question 22

Spondylolisthesis

Answer 22

result of bilateral spondylolysis causing the subluxation of the vertebrae (typically L5 over S1)

Question 23

Perched or Locked Facet

Answer 23

Occurs in cervical vertebrae as a result of hyperflexion

perches one vertebrae over the other on the facet joints

-tears ligamentum flavum