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

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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 effusion2. 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.