Transcript Introduction To Radiology

Basics of Radiology
A pre-clinician needs an organized introduction to
the fundamentals of radiology to appreciate the
content & usefulness of radiological images. The
focus of this material is the plain-film radiograph—
the beginning of radiology.
Remember, the instructor is not a radiologist; neither
he nor the course material suggest that you need to
be, or even should be, interpreting diagnostic images
- - for that is the responsibility of the Radiologist.
Radiograph
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X-ray film with an image of an anatomy
X-rays emanating from a localized source
pass through a portion of the body onto a
detector that records the density of x-rays
as an image
Plain Film/ Conventional Radiograph
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Made without contrast enhancement
80% of imaging examinations
Radiodensity
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Amount of x-irradiation absorbed by a
substance
Determined by composition (atomic weight)
and thickness
Greater the atomic weight and thickness,
the greater the radiodensity
Increased radiodensity, increased
absorption of x-rays
As radiodensity increases, objective
appears more white on image
1-5
Handling and viewing
plain film radiographs
Image Distortion
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Magnification
 The closer a structure is to the film, the
less magnification there is and the
detail & sharpness is better.
Shortening & Lengthening

due to the angle of x-ray beam or angle of the structure.
. . . relative to the film
Viewing Plain Radiographs
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Always need at least 2
views
Close to 90 degrees
from each other
“One View Is No View”
Film Markers: Patient
ID & anatomical side:
Do not orient film to
view a correctly
positioned letter
Radiographs: Common Views
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Anteroposterior (AP): beam passes
anterior to posterior.
Posteroanterior (PA): beam passes
posterior to anterior (common chest view)
Lateral
Oblique
Placing Radiographs on View Box
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For AP views (extremity, head/spine) and
chest PA:
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Hand-fingers (PA) or foot/toes (AP):
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place in the viewing box with the patient facing
you in anatomical position (except wrist-handfingers and feet-toes). The patient’s right is on
your left.
point the digits up; hands and feet are oriented
right on right and left on left (rather than
anatomical position).
Spine AP views: orient in anatomical position
with the “R” on the patient’s right side
Placing Radiographs on View Box
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In general for Lateral & Oblique views
 typically face them to your LEFT,
 or you can also attempt to orient in the
same direction that the beam traveled
(easy to say, hard to do).
 If it is a multi-view film and there is an
AP or PA view accompanying, then use
the AP or PA view to correctly orient the
entire film.
Orienting Films:
Are the following
oriented correctly?
AP of R. Humerus
Which one is Oriented Correctly?
AP of L. Shoulder
Is It Oriented Correctly?
AP of R. Elbow
Is It Oriented Correctly?
AP of L knee;
Which one is Oriented Correctly??
PA of R.
Wrist
Is It Oriented Correctly?
L
L
Is It Oriented Correctly?
AP– Left Foot
Is It Oriented Correctly?
Lateral View – C-spine
R
AP Lower C-Spine
R
AP View – Lumbar Spine