Xray positioning exam

Lateral – routine

Measure: caudal aspect of 13^th rib at the thickest area

Central Ray

Canine: over caudal aspect of 13^th rib at the level of L2 and L3

  Feline: Two or Three fingers widths caudal to 13^th rib

Ventrodorsal – routine

Measure: caudal aspect of 13^th rib at level of umbilicus

Central ray:

Canine: center on midline over caudal aspect of 13^th rib at level of umbilicus

  Feline: two or three finger widths caudal to 13^th rib

Dorsoventral – Ancillary

Measure: caudal aspect of 13^th rib at level of umbilicus

Central ray:

  Canine: center on midline over caudal aspect of 13^th rib at level of umbilicus

  Feline: two or three finger widths caudal to 13^th rib

Modified lateral – ancillary

Measure: over the acetabulum/ ischium

Central ray: over the cranial wing of the ilium unless the rectum is of interest, in that case the central beam is over the pelvis

Lateral oblique - Ancillary

Measure: over the acetabulum/ ischium

Central ray: over the cranial wing of the ilium unless the rectum is of interest, in that case the central beam is over the pelvis

Lateral thorax - routine

Measure: caudal border of the scapula over the thickest part of the thorax

Central ray: at the caudal border of the scapula, between the 5^th and 6^th ribs (where you feel the hardest heartbeat)

Ventrodorsal throax- routine

Measure: over the caudal border of the scapula at the highest point of the sternum

central ray: midline over the superimposed spine and sternum at the caudal margin of the scapula or between the 5th and 6th ribs

Dorsoventral thorax- routine

Measure: over the caudal border of the scapula or at the highest point

Central ray: midline at the caudal margin of the scapula or between the 5th and 6th ribs

Horizontal beam radiography - acillary

Measure: caudal border of the scapular over the thickest part of the thorax

Central ray: at the caudal border of the scapula, between the 5th and 6th rib

Lateral Decubitus view - ancillary

Measure: caudal border of the scapular over the thickest part of the thorax

Central ray: at the caudal border of the scapula, between the 5th and 6th rib

Ventrodosal Decubitus view- ancillary

Measure: caudal border of the scapular over the thickest part of the thorax

Central ray: at the caudal border of the scapula, between the 5th and 6th rib

Dorsoventral decubitus view- ancillary

Measure: caudal border of the scapular over the thickest part of the thorax

Central ray: at the caudal border of the scapula, between the 5th and 6th rib

Standing lateral view (with a horizontal beam)- ancillary

Measure: caudal border of the scapular over the thickest part of the thorax

Central ray: at the caudal border of the scapula, between the 5th and 6th rib

Ventrodorsal oblique View- ancillary

  Measure: caudal aspect of 13^th rib at level of umbilicus

Central beam: rotate sternum away from the side of interest about 20-30 degrees, centered on the lesion

lateral (mediolateral) view of the scapula- routine

measure: dorsally at the cranial border of the scapula approximately at about the site of T1 and T2 spinous process or thickest area where scapula is noted

central ray: center of scapula

Lateral (lateromedial) view of the scapula - ancillary

Measure: dorsally at the cranial border of the scapula approximately at about the site of T1 and T2 spinous process or thickest area where the scapula is noted

Central ray: center of the scapula

Lateral (mediolateral) view of the scapula - ancillary

Measure: dorsally at the cranial border of the scapula approximately at about the site of T1 and T2 spinous process or thickest area where the scapula is noted

Central ray: center of the scapula

Caudocranial view of scapula - routine

measure: at the level of the scapulohumeral articulation (shoulder joint) so that the calipers are extended over the first thoracic vertebral body

central ray: center of the scapula

Lateral (mediolateral view of the shoulder - routine

Measure: at the level of the shoulder joint, extend the caliper to the point of the unaffected shoulder, being careful not to include that limb

central beam: at the scapulohumeral articulation (shoulder joint) by palpating the proximal head of the humerus and the glenoid fossa of the scapula

Caudocranial view of the shoulder - routine

measure: at the level of the scapulohumeral articulation (shoulder joint)

central ray: palpate the proximal head of the humerus and the acromion of the scapula at the center of the scapulohumeral articulation (shoulder joint)

Skyline (cranioproximal and craniodistal) view of the shoulder for the bicipital groove - ancillary

Measure and central ray: at the head of the humerus, palpating for the bicipital groove

Lateral (mediolateral) view of the humerus - routine

measure: toward the proximal humerus at the level of the scapulohumeral articulation (shoulder joint)

central ray: midshaft of humerus

caudocranial view of the humerus - routine

measure: midshaft toward the proximal aspect; across at the level of T1

central ray: midshaft of humerus

Craniocaudal view of the humerus - ancillary

measure: midshaft of the humerus toward the proximal aspect

central ray: midshaft of humerus

Lateral (mediolateral) view of the elbow - routine

measure: thickest part of the elbow at the distal elbow

central ray: palpate and center on the distal humeral condyles (elbow)

Craniocaudal view of the elbow - routine

measure: thickest part of the elbow at the distal humerus

central ray: palpate and center on the humeral condyles at the level of articulation. Angle the beam distoproximally 10 to 20 degrees to visualize the joint surfaces if full extension is not possible

Hyperflexed (mediolateral) view of the elbow - acillary

measure: at the distal humerus with the elbow un the flexed position

central ray: palpate and center on the humeral condyle

Oblique view of elbow - ancillary

measure: thickest part of the elbow at the distal humerus

central ray: palpate and center on the humeral condyles at the level of articulation. Angle the beam distoproximally 10 to 20 degrees to visualize the joint surfaces if full extension is not possible

Lateral (mediolateral) view of the radius/ulna - routine

measure: site of the distal humerus

central ray: midshaft of the radius and ulna

craniocaudal view of the radius/ulna - routine

measure: site of distal humerus

central ray: midshaft of the radius and ulna

Lateral (mediolateral) view of foot - routine

measure: at the site of interest

central ray: centered at the site interest

Lateral (mediolateral) hyperextended view of the foot - ancillary

Measure: at site of interest

central ray: centered at the site of interest

Lateral (mediolateral) hyperflexed view of the carpus - anxillary

Dorsopalmar view of the foot - routine

Measure: at site of interest

central ray: centered at the site of interest

Oblique

Lateral view of pelvis

measure: at the level of the trochanter or the thickest part

central ray: greater trochanter of the femur

Ventrodorsal exteneded - leg view of the pelvis - routine

measure: thickest part of pelvis

central

Ventrodorsal frong leg view of pelvis - ancillary

measure: thickest part of the pelvis or over acetablulum

Lateral (mediolateral) view of the femur - routine

measure: midshaft of the femur

central ray: midshaft of femur

craniocaudal view of femur- routine

measure: midshaft of the affected femur

central ray: midshaft of the affected femur

Caudocranial view (horizontal beam) of the femur - ancillary

measure- midshaft of femur

central ray: midshft of femur

Lateral (mediolateral) view of stifle - routine

measure: at the distal end of the femur

central ray: palpate and center on the indentation of the stifle joint

Caudocranial view of the stifle - routine

measure: at the distal end of the femur

central ray: on the stifle joint, angle beam 5 to 10 degrees cranially

SK

Lateral (mediolateral) view of the tibia/fibula - routine

m

Caudocranial view of tbia/fibula - routine

measure: midshaft of the tibia and fibula (to compensate the difference in tissue thickness at either end)

central ray: midshaft of the tibia and fibula

Lateral (mediolateral) view of the foot - routine/ancillary

measure: area of interest

central ray: area of interst

Plantarodorsal view of foot - routine

measure: area of interest

central ray: area of interst

Dorsoplantar view of the foot - ancillary

measure: area of interest

central ray: area of interst

Oblique views of foot - ancillary

measure: area of interest

central ray: area of interst

Lateral view of the cervical vertebrae - routine

measure: across the shoulder at the level of C6 to ensure adequate penetration of the caudal cervical vertebrae, through a slight over exposure may occur with cranial cervical vertebrae

cats and smaller dogs: c3 to c4

Cental ray: C3 to C4

Ventrodosal view of cervical vertebrae

measure: level of C6 near manubrium

central ray: C3 to C4

Hyperextended lateral view of the cervical vertebrae - ancillary

measure: C3 to C4 intervertebral space across the neck

central neck: C3 to C4 interverbral space

Hyperflexed lateral view of the cervical vertebrae - ancillary

measure: C3 to C4 i

Lateral view of the lumbosacral vertebrae - natural positioning- routine

measure: wings of ilia

central ray:

Lateral view of the lumbosacral vertebrae - ancillary

meaure: level of L1

central ray: L3 to L4 (palpate)

Ventrodorsal view of lumbosacral vertebrae - routine

measure: wings of ilia

central ray: on the lumbosacral junction, caudal to the wings of the ilia, at an angle of 20 to 30 degrees in a caudocranial direction

lateral view of the caudal vertebrae - routine

measure: thickest part of the tail

central ray: area of interest

Ventrodorsal view of the caudal vertebrae - routine

measure: thickest part of the tail

central ray: area of interest