what are the four main steps of CXR interpretation
Identification
Nature and quality of film
systematic observation
formulation of interpretation
what is a lucency
area of blackness
what is an opacity
area of whiteness
how do you tell if a film is correctly exposed
vertebrae should be just visible through the cardiac shadow
how do you assess rotation
look at the vertebral spines between the clavicles
how do you check for inspiration
the anterior ends of the 6th ribs lie above the diaphragm
what are lung markings
blood vessels (not bronchi)
what is a normal cardio thoracic ratio
less than 50% (PA)
what should you look at in the systematic observation
airway air spaces lung edges diaphragm hila heart size heart shape great vessels ribs clavicles scapulae soft tissue foreign bodies