CHEST XRAY BASICS

DR UMAMAHESH MD,FCCP

Essentials Before Getting Started

Sex of Patient

Male

Female

Date of examination

Path of x-ray beam

PA

AP

Lateral

Lateral Decubitus

Exposure

Overexposure

Underexposure

Rotation

Breath

Inspiration

Expiration

POSTEROANTERIOR (PA) VIEW

The standard frontal view of the chest

Refers to direction of x-ray beam

Positioning of the patient

Taken at a distance of SIX FEET

PA VIEW

PA VIEW

ANTEROPOSTERIOR (AP) VIEW

Patient in supine position

Used in very sick patients, infants, one who is unable

to sit or stand

Direction of x-ray beam

At a distance of 4 feet

Greater magnification

AP VIEW

AP VIEW

PA VS AP VIEW

PA

Taken in standing or sitting

Scapulae not overlapping

lung fields

Clavicle is not

foreshortened

No cardiac magnification

Fundic air bubble seen

AP

Taken in supine

Scapulae overlapping

lung fields

Clavicle is foreshortened

Cardiac magnification

Fundic air bubble not seen

PA VS AP

LATERAL VIEW

Left lateral and right lateral view

INDICATIONS:

1. Minimal pleural effusion

2. Segmental/mediastinal localizations of lesions of

chest

Lateral

DECUBITUS VIEW

Right decubitus and Left decubitus views

Xray beam focussed perpendicular to film

Indications:

1.Minimal pleural effusion

2.Confirm air fluid levels in lung itself

Lateral Decubitus

Penetration

Rotation

Expiration/Inspiration

Counting the ribs

HEART

HILUM

RIGHT

HILUM

LEFT HILUM

ADDITIONAL VIEWS

EXPIRATORY FILM

TO DETECT UNILATERAL OBSTRUCTIVE

EMPHYSEMA

PNEMOTHORAX APPEARS LARGER ON

EXPIRATION

Lordotic view

Used to visualize the apex of the lung, to pick up

abnormalities such as a Pancoast tumour.