2. Normal Musculoskeletal Imaging
Upon satisfactory completion of this
lecture, and in conjunction with
textbooks, lecture handouts, WebCT, and
recommended internet web sites, the
student will be able to:
• Recognize normal X - ray anatomy of the
skeletal system
7. How to study
radiographs
Be systematic.
Compare densities.
If in doubt, order a
contralateral view.
Is this an adult or child?
What was the gender?
What was the social status?
8. Normal Musculoskeletal Imaging
Most common views:
• anteroposterior (AP)
• lateral (Lat)
An oblique view of the lumbar spine exposes
the patient to 5 times as much radiation as
the AP and lateral views.
• “Do I really need this test?”
24. Cervical spine imaging
You must see all seven vertebrae
“Portable cross-table” is the most common
initial X-ray taken in ED
Used to “clear” possible neck injuries
43. Specifics of CXR assessment
Airway and adenopathy:
• assess the airway, inspecting the trachea and mainstem bronchi and looking for
deviation or evidence of luminal obstruction
• assess adenopathy (either peritracheal or hilar)
Bones and breast shadows:
• inspect the bones for radiographic density, fractures, lytic lesions, or bony
deformity
• evaluate the breast shadows for gross symmetry, evidence of prior surgery, and
any gross calcifications
Cardiac silhouette:
• assess the cardiac silhouette for general size and contour
Diaphgram:
• assess the hemidiaphgrams with attention to the contour and costaphrenic angle
Everything else:
• review everything else around the lung fields including the subcutaneous soft
tissues and pleural boundaries
Fields:
• assess the lung fields themselves looking for evidence of infiltrate, mass, and
pattern of vascularity
87. The X-ray in photo C
belongs to which of
the following
patients?
2-year-old
1.
0%
6-year-old
2.
0%
10-year-old
3.
0%
15-year-old
4.
0%
20-year-old
5.
0%
88. The arrow is pointing
to which of the
following
structures?
Scaphoid
1.
0%
Talus
2.
0%
Calcaneus
3.
0%
Fibula
4.
0%
Lateral malleolus
5.
0%
89. Thought for the day…
We can’t direct the
wind…but we can
adjust our sails!