Radiology for the PA Student Flashcards
why is it called an Xray?
it was unknown what was causing the glow
why it is called a wet read?
X-rays had to be developed with chemicals
how are X-rays recorded now?
photo-sensitive cassette stored on PACS (picture archiving communications storage)
what 6 images can be stored in PACS?
- conventional radiography (xray)
- CT
- MRI
- ultrasound
- fluoroscopy
- nuclear medicine
what are 2 advantages and 2 disadvantages of xrays?
inexpensive
convenient
ionizing radiation
just 5 basic densities in b/w
what are the 5 basic densities seen in X-ray?
- air
- fat
- soft tissue/fluid
- both have same density on plain films so can’t tell difference between heart muscle and blood
- calcium
- metal
- absorbs all x-rays and appears the whitest
what is the most common X-ray support structure?
ceiling support system
what is the effect of radiation?
- cumulative over lifetime
- deposits energy on its path thru body
- free radicals produced
- ↑ likelihood cancer
how long does abdominal CT radiation linger in the body?
4 years
how long does extremity radiation linger in the body?
1.5 days
how do health professionals protect themselves from radiation?
lead apron +/- thyroid shield
where is the safest place to stand in relation to the xray machine?
90degrees to incident beam
what is the initial imaging study of choice following skeletal trauma?
xrays
what are the 4 commonly evaluated disorders with xray?
chest
abdomen
pelvis
musculoskeletal system
what are the 3 positions people are in for xray?
seated
standing
supine
what is lateral placement?
what is decubitus placement?
Lateral decubitus placement/purpose?
- 90 degrees to the AP or PA
- recumbent (lying down) to horizontal beam
- laying on side
- to see air/fluid levels
- up side shows air
- down side shows fluid
All extremity x-rays should be ordered with how many views?
Most extremity projections involve how many views?
- 2
- 3
what is an oblique view?
half way between lateral and ap/pa views–> at an angle
why are heart xrays taken PA?
xray projection magnifies as it goes through so keeping the heart closest to the screen helps to give accurate size
patient fell on ice on butt, do you xray coccyx?
no
- radiation to gonads
- doesn’t impact treatment, still sit on donut
under penetrated xrays are what color?
white
What is the most important question ask female patients if they are around 12-50 before giving x-ray?
are you preggers
What views should you always order when getting an xray?
AP/Lateral usually suffice, but get oblique if able
- In 5% of fractures, the fracture line is only visualized on one of the two orthogonal projections
Overpentrated films will be to? why
dark because too much energy went through-because button was held for too long
what is the most important study of musculoskeletal evaluation?
taking a patients history
what are the ABCS of reading an xray?
- Adequacy (penetration, alignment)
- Bones (Lucent lines, deformities)
- Cartilage (joint space, defects)
- Soft tissue (swelling, effusion)
what orientation is extremity xray viewed?
fingers/toes up