Why do we perform a left lateral chest radiograph rather than a right lateral?

The most commonly cited reason for favoring the left rather than right lateral chest radiograph is that the left-sided cardiac structures are closer to the film and less magnified.

Why is getting the lateral view of the chest important?

The lateral chest view can be particularly useful in assessing the retrosternal and retrocardiac airspaces. If locating a specific pulmonary opacity within the chest cavity, it would be useful for requesting doctors to ensure that the side of the opacity is mentioned in their clinical notes.

What is the primary disadvantage of performing an AP projection of the chest rather than a PA projection?

AP projections have the disadvantage of making the heart an mediastinum appear more prominent as well as usually resulting in shallower inspiration which can limit evaluation of the lung bases. A lateral projection is not obtained with a AP projection, thereby limiting the view of the chest further.

What are the justification for a good chest radiograph?

Some of the common reasons to order a chest X-ray test are cough, shortness of breath, chest pain, poor oxygenation (hypoxia), back pain, chest injury, and fever.

What does right lateral mean?

If you were to stand on the fault and look along its length, this is a type of strike-slip fault where the right block moves toward you and the left block moves away. See also left-lateral.

How do you tell if a fault is right or left lateral?

Strike-slip faults are vertical (or nearly vertical) fractures where the blocks have mostly moved horizontally. If the block opposite an observer looking across the fault moves to the right, the slip style is termed right lateral; if the block moves to the left, the motion is termed left lateral.

What is a lateral chest xray for?

The lateral chest view examines the lungs, bony thoracic cavity, mediastinum, and great vessels.

When do we get lateral projection of the chest?

For a lateral projection, the chest landmark used for locating the center of the lung fields is at the T7 level (mid-thorax). The T7 level on an average adult is 3-4 inches (8-10 cm) below the jugular notch.

What is the space between the lungs in the thoracic cavity called?

The mediastinum is the partition between the lungs and includes the mediastinal pleura. It is commonly applied to the internal between the two pleural sacs, the sternum and the thoracic vertebral column extending to the diaphragm.

When taking a PA projection of the chest the correct SID is?

The SID should be at a minimum of 72 inches (180 cm). Both lungs, from the apices to the costophrenic angles, should be included.

Can a chest xray show COPD?

A chest X-ray can be used to look for problems in the lungs that can cause similar symptoms to COPD. Problems that can be shown by an X-ray include chest infections and lung cancer, although these do not always show.

Why do you need a lateral chest film?

Anatomy on the Lateral Chest Film Because it provides a right angle view to that obtained with the PA radiograph, the lateral view is extremely helpful in analysis of mediastinal, as well as of pulmonary parenchymal, abnormalities. Understanding the anatomy as it is projected in this view is essential to interpretation.

Which is the best view of the chest?

Chest (lateral view) 1 Patient position. 2 Technical factors. 3 Image technical evaluation. 4 Practical points. The left lateral is the preferred lateral position as it demonstrates better anatomical detail of the heart.

What does a lateral view of a chest xray show?

Lateral examination of a chest x-ray (CXR) shows the normal in the upper row (a,b) and the abnormal and enlarged in the bottom row (c,d). WHERE IS THE RIGHT ATRIUM? DOMINANT RIGHT ATRIAL ENLARGEMENT. LATERAL EXAMINATION

When do you need a lateral chest scan?

The lateral chest view may be performed as an adjunct to a frontal chest radiograph in cases where there is diagnostic uncertainty. The lateral chest view examines the lungs, bony thoracic cavity, mediastinum, and great vessels. Lateral radiographs can be particularly useful in assessing the retrosternal and retrocardiac airspaces.