Chest x rays are ordered for a wide variety of diagnostic purposes:

• Pulmonary disorders• Cardiac disorders • Pre-operative assessment• Pre-employment evaluation• Systemic disorders including malignancy• Verification of correct placement of catheters

and tubes

INITIAL SURVEY

• Patient's name, age, sex • Date exam done (very important if comparing

prior exams). • Check for position markers - right vs. left,

upright .• Patients position - supine, upright, lateral,

decubitus. • Technical quality of exam .

FILM INTERPRETATION DEPENDS ON:• Film quality and technique• Clinical history and presentation.• Availability of previous x-rays for

comparison.• Knowledge of radiological anatomy.• Recognition of the radiological signs of

disease.

Systematic film review 1.Soft Tissues

• Calcifications• Abnormal air collections • Lumps/masses • Look for sharp, distinct muscle fat planes

http://radiographics.rsnajnls.org/content/vol20/issue6/images/large/g00nv03g4x.jpeg

Systematic film review2.Skeletal Structures

• Overall size, shape, and contour of each bone.

• Density or mineralization • Compare cortical thickness to medullary

cavity, trabecular pattern, look for erosions, fractures, any lytic or blastic regions

Case 8