Radiology

Front 1

Why do some objects appear white on a radiograph while others are dark?

Back 1

Radiographic film before an image is taken is transparent and therefore white on a view box.

When a radiograph is taken, X-rays reach the film and darken it. The more X-rays reach an area of the film, the darker that area will be on the radiograph.

Therefore, if an object is very dense, less X-rays will reach the film and consequently the image of the object will appear white on the radiograph.

However, if an object has little density, its image will appear black on the radiograph because it allows most of the X-ray beam to reach the film.

Bottom line: Denser objects do not allow x-rays to reach film and appear white. Less-dense objects allow more x-rays to reach film and appear darker.

The whiter the film the denser the object.

Front 2

Name the five radiographic densities from least to most dense:

Back 2

1) Gas
2) Fat
3) Fluid
4) Bone
5) Metal

Front 3

Before even beginning to interpret an image, what two things should you verify?

Back 3

1) Labels -- Is this the right person and the right x-ray?

2) Previous exams - Do they have a previous image for comparison?

Front 4

What does decubitus mean?

Back 4

Fancy Latin way of saying lying down.

Front 5

What does "air space disease" mean in the context of radiology? How does it appear on a chest radiograph?

Back 5

Air space disease, also called consolidation, refers to the presence of fluid-density material in the alveoli.

On a radiograph, air space disease appears as a patch of white opacity.

Front 6

What are the three spaces around the lungs where fluid can accumulate and what is an accumulation of fluid in each of these spaces called?

Back 6

1) Alveolar space, also called air space.
-Consolidation

2) Interstitial space, also called interstitium
-Pulmonary edema

3) Pleural space, also called pleural cavity
-Pleural effusion

Front 7

What do airways look like on a normal chest radiograph?

Back 7

Trick question: the bronchi and smaller airways are normally invisible. Their walls are very thin and can't be visualized, they are filled with air, and they are surrounded by air.

Front 8

Which structures comprise the right mediastinal silhouette on a normal chest radiograph?

Back 8

Superior vena cava and the right atrium.

Front 9

Which structures comprise the three major bumps of the left mediastinal silhouette on a normal chest radiograph?

Back 9

From superior to inferior:

Aortic arch
Left atrial appendage
Left ventricle/apex