CHEST XRAY BASICS

DR UMAMAHESH MD,FCCP
Essentials Before Getting Started

 Sex of Patient  Exposure

 Male  Overexposure
 Female
 Underexposure
 Date of examination  Rotation
 Path of x-ray beam
 Breath
 PA
 Inspiration
 AP
 Lateral  Expiration

 Lateral Decubitus
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

LEFT HILUM
RIGHT
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.