SA Imaging Flashcards
What does overexposure and underexposure look like on x rays?
Overexposure = black (digital imaging will correct this) Underexposure = white (grainy with digital imaging)
What happens if too high mAs with digital imaging?
Main concern is noise
Increasing mAs -> less noise
Too high mAs -> more scatter, less contrast
What if part of an x ray is sharp, but another part is blurred?
Likely movement artefact
So increase sedation and check exposure time
What is a grid for x rays used for?
Removes most scatter
Less radiation will reach the film so need to increase exposure to compensate
Bucky = a grid which vibrates to blur our grid lines
What is object-film length of x rays and how does it affect the image?
= Distance between the plate and the centre of interest
Shorter = more accurate the size of the image (think of a shadow when close or far away from a light)
E.g. lateral pelvis - ill wings will be superimposed if aligned correctly, but upper most will always appear larger as further from plate
Is DV or VD better to assess lung lobes on x ray?
VD - particularly for accessory lobe as heart and lungs fall away from sternum (but do get ventral mediastinal reflection)
When is a VD X-ray contraindicated?
Dyspneic or stressed animals
How to determine if a DV/VD X-ray is straight?
Spine and sternum should be superimposed
Dorsal spinous processes should be straight
Axial rotation if not
How to assess positioning of a lateral xray?
Costochondral junctions should be at same level
How to determine if a lateral xray was taken at maximal inspiration?
Diaphragm should cross dorsally at T13-L1
How to tell if a lateral x ray is left or right lateral?
Left lateral
- diaphragm crura intersect (Y shape)
- caudal vena cava (ST opacity) passes into first crura from caudal cardiac silhouette?
Right lateral - diaphragm crura parallel, caudal vena cava passes through first crura and into second?
Where to assess the size of the pulmonary artery and vein on a DV/VD xray? And cranial lobe vessels on laterals?
DV pulmonary vessels: Where cross 9th rib
Lateral, cranial lobe vessels: width compared to proximal third of 4th rib
Why should you do both lateral xray views if looking for pulmonary nodules?
Dependent side will be deflated so will get effacement of nodules on that side so will only see if do other view (e.g. see right sided nodules better on left lateral)
What does dorsal elevation of the trachea on lateral x rays suggest? What does straightening of the caudal border of the cardiac silhouette suggest?
Dorsal elevation of trachea: LV enlargement
Straightening of caudal border: LA enlargement
What may you see on radiography with a pleural effusion?
Pleural fissure lines (fluid between separated lung lobes)
Lung retraction from thoracic wall
Mediastinal shift (away from effusion)
Effacement of cardiac silhouette/diaphragm
What may you see with a pneumothorax on radiography?
Air outside lungs - no lung detail, very radiolucent
Retraction of lunds
May have dorsal displacement of cardiac silhouette
What are the 4 lung patterns on radiography and how do they look different?
Alveolar:
- air bronchograms
- effacement
- lobar sign (where one lobe is an increased ST opacity than another so can see the contrast between 2 lobes)
Bronchial:
- doughnuts and tramlines away from perihilar area (thickened bronchi - irregular, thick)
- bronchiectasis
- bronchial wall mineralisation
- peribronchial cuffing
Interstitial:
- hazy, mesh like
- increased ST opacity but no effacement of vessels etc
Vascular:
- widened vessels
- vessels not tapering off towards periphery
What to do to investigate a bronchial pattern?
Bronchoscopy and BAL
What could <3mm ST opacities be on radiography?
Can't be ST masses as would be too small to be seen Ddx: - osteomata - end on vessels - superimposed military structures
Ddx for increased lung opacity and where would they be distributed?
Bronchopneumonia and aspiration pneumonia - cranioventral
Cardiogenic oedema - perihilar in dogs
Non cardiogenic pulmonary oedema - caudodorsal
Atelectasis
Contusions
Ddx for a bronchial pattern?
Chronic bronchitis
Eosinophilic bronchopneumopathy
When is mediastinal shift seen?
Away from effusions, masses etc
Towards atelectasis
Ddx for mediastinal thickening (increased ST opacity) on x rays?
Lymphoma Thymoma Cyst LN enlargement Abscess Granuloma
How wide is a normal mediastinum?
<2x thoracic vertebral body width (wider in brachycephalics and fat dogs)
Where would a cranioventral mediastinal mass be located on a DV x ray?
Towards the left side because mediastinum normally deviates to the left in caudal thorax
What do pulmonary masses look like on radiography?
May have air bronchogram within it
Usually look different on left and right laterals
Soft tissue mass ddx on x rays?
CHANG Cyst Haematoma Abscess Neoplasia Granuloma
How to determine if a lateral abdominal x ray is a left or right lateral?
R lateral: - gas in fundus - duodenum and pylorus superimposed on eachother L lateral: - gas in pylorus
What should a normal liver look like on x ray?
Should be within costal arch
Sharp caudoventral border
Look at gastric axis
What should a normal spleen look like on x ray?
Semicircular shaped area of head (where attached to stomach dorsally, curved over on itself)
Tail is ventral, caudal to liver
What does it suggest if there is gas inside a mass on x ray?
Intestinal tumour