SA diagnostic imaging

Question 1

what are the basic radiographic opacities?

Answer 1

air (black)
fat
soft tissue/fluid
mineral - bone
metallic

Question 2

what does a high radiopacity mean?

Answer 2

not as many beams pass through a structure (appears white)

Question 3

what are the five basic radiographic (rontgen) signs?

Answer 3

number
size
shape
location
opacity

Question 4

what needs to be looked at during a radiographic appraisal?

Answer 4

correct patient/region
complete study (two orthogonal views)
identify/check labels
assess quality

Question 5

what is assessed when looking at radiograph quality?

Answer 5

exposure
collimation
positioning
contrast
artefacts/errors

Question 6

what is a composite shadow?

Answer 6

when normal structures superimpose each other

Question 7

what aspects need to described when looking at the shape as a radiographic sign/

Answer 7

overall shape

shape/definition of margins

Question 8

how large does a soft tissue nodule have to be to be visible on a radiograph?

Answer 8

> 5mm

Question 9

what is the mass effect?

Answer 9

if something changes in size other organs/structures will be displaced

Question 10

what is effacement?

Answer 10

loss of normal contrasting opacity so borders/structures are lost

Question 11

what radiographic view of the thorax should always be taken first?

Answer 11

dorso-ventral (lateral will cause atelectasis)