Thoracic Imaging

Question 1

Most radiolucent material to most radio opaque

Answer 1

Gas–> Fat–> Soft tissue/fluid–> mineral–> metal

Question 2

Naming radiographic views

Answer 2

-Named according to the direction of the x-ray beam
-Where the beam came from followed by where it goes to

Question 3

Hanging protocols – lateral images

Answer 3

-Cranial or rostral always to the left
-Caudal to the right
-Dorsal uppermost and ventral lowest

Question 4

Obtain radiographs on PEAK

Answer 4

INSPIRATION

Question 5

True/False; The dependent (facing down) lung is less aerated than the non-dependent lung (facing up)

Answer 5

True

Question 6

Soft tissue lesions are______ visible if present in the lung
facing UP (non-dependent lung) because it is ____ aerated

Answer 6

MORE, MORE

Question 7

Soft tissue lesions are ____ visible when present in the lung facing DOWN (dependent lung) because it is _____ aerated (lesion silhouettes with the lung)

Answer 7

LESS, LESS

Question 8

Factors to point out Right lateral

Answer 8

-RT crus of diaphragm more cranial (caudal vena cava (CVC) enters RT crus)

-RT and LT crura are parallel to each other

-Gastric fundus caudal to LT crus

-Gastric fundus is gas filled (up side);pylorus is fluid filled (down side)

Question 9

Factors to point out Left lateral

Answer 9

-LT crus of diaphragm more cranial
-RT and LT crura diverge from each other (ventral to dorsal)
-Gastric fundus caudal to LT crus
-Pylorus gas-filled; gastric fundus more fluid filled

Question 10

Right or left lateral?

Answer 10

Right

Question 11

Right or left lateral?

Answer 11

Left

Question 12

Factors for Ventrodorsal (VD)

Answer 12

-3 humps seen on diaphragm
-Accessory lung lobe is better seen
-CVC(caudal vena cava) better seen
-Heart is more elongated
-caudal lobar vessels less distinct

Question 13

Factors of Dorsalventral Thorax (DV)

Answer 13

-only one hump is seen in diaphragm
-diaphragm is more cranial, pushes the tip of the heart to the left
-heart is more rounded(b/c of upright position)
-Caudal lobar vessels easier to evaluate(magnified, more perpendicular to x-ray beam and surrounded by more aerated lung)
-Accessory lung lobe less aerated due to more cranial position of diaphragm

Question 14

Alveolar Pattern

Answer 14

-alveoli filled with fluid, cells etc.
-collapsed alveoli–>Atelectasis
-Air bronchograms “trees in a snowstorm”

Question 15

Bronchial pattern

Answer 15

Thickened bronchial walls

Question 16

Clock-face analogy for DV/VD

Answer 16

11-1–> Aorta
1-2–> Main Pulmonary artery
3–> Left Auricle
2-5–> Left ventricle
5-9–> Right Ventricle
9-11–> Right atrium
Left atrium is @ tracheal bifurcation

Question 17

Pulmonary vessels

Answer 17

-artery(dorsal), bronchus(mid) and vein(ventral
-artery and vein should be equal in size
-compare vessels to diameter of the most proximal aspect of 4th rib
-artery and vein should have similar width and should have a width less than the 9th rib where they cross it