Chest x-ray

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Chest x-ray with bronchial carcinoma .

The chest X-ray or the chest X-ray refers to an X-ray of the chest in a straight or side view (plane). It's a routine check-up. It is used to judge:

Indications

A chest x-ray is suitable for clarifying / excluding the following diseases:

Beam path

With a chest x-ray, there are different beam paths, i.e. different options for the direction from which the rays enter the body. The recordings are usually made using hard blasting technology.

  • pa-projection (posterior-anterior): radiation source behind the thorax, detector / film in front of it (usually when the patient is standing)
  • ap-projection (anterior-posterior): radiation source in front of the thorax, detector / film behind it (usually when the patient is lying down, e.g. in the intensive care unit. The other projection can make structures appear enlarged because they are closer to the radiation source If the total distance between the radiation source and the patient is smaller when taking pictures in bed, the result is greater magnification.)
  • II projection (latero-lateral): lateral projection, lying either on the right or left with respect to the detector / film. This beam path is the most frequently used in veterinary medicine because the chest is "squeezed" sideways in animals.

In practice, the chest X-ray is usually recorded in two planes, namely p. a. and on the left. With these projections, the distortion of the heart shadow is relatively small compared to the other projections. In bed-ridden patients with a greatly reduced general condition, usually only one AP is performed.

Possible pathological changes

Example of a normal finding

p. a.-exposure while standing: the diaphragmatic crusts are smoothly delimited / bordered, the (lateral) recesses / marginal angles are free / visible. The lungs are transparent on both sides, ventilated on the same side and show no shadows. The heart is properly configured in shape, position and size. The Hili are vascular typical normal. The mediastinal shadow is central and not widened. The trachea is in the middle. The aortic button is regular. The pleura lies against the chest wall on all sides. The bony thorax and the soft tissue jacket are normal.

Lateral view: The retrosternal space and the retrocardial space are freely visible, as are the posterior recesses. The aortopulmonary window is not reduced in transparency.

Assessment: normal cardiopulmonary findings.

Web links

Commons : Chest X-ray Images  - Collection of images, videos and audio files