soft tissue neck test

Which of the following body positions is preferable for a soft tissue neck examination?

• upright sitting

• Upright standing

True or false:

The patients shoulders should lie in the same parallel plane for both the AP and lateral soft tissue neck projections

True

On the AP projection, how much should the patients head be extended?

Just enough to prevent the mandible from obscuring the laryngeal area

Which of the following respiration techniques should be utilized for both the AP and lateral projections?

Expose during quiet nasal inspiration

If your patient can’t cooperate to follow breathing instructions, when should you make an he exposure?

When the chest is nearly expanded

Which plane is perpendicular with the IR for the AP projection?

Midsagittal

Which plane is perpendicular with the IR for the lateral projection?

Midsagittal

If you are concerned that the patients shoulders may superimpose the anterior neck on the lateral projection, what should you do?

• clasp the hands posteriorly

• Rotate the shoulders posteriorly

Where should the CR be on the AP projection (for upper airway)?

• laryngeal prominence

• C5

• Thyroid cartilage

How much should the CR be angled for the AP projection?

There is no CR angle, it should be kept perpendicular to the IR

What anatomy should be demonstrated on the soft tissue neck (for upper airway), AP projection?

Air filled upper airway from the pharynx to the proximal trachea

What anatomy should be demonstrated on the soft tissue neck ( for upper airway), lateral projection?

Air filled upper airway from the pharynx to the proximal trachea

True or false:

The only portion of the pharynx you can see on the AP projection is the oropharynx

False

True or false:

The only portion of the pharynx you can see on the lateral projection is the nasopharynx

False

Which of the following are evaluation criteria for the AP soft tissue neck (for upper airway) projection?

• evidence of proper collimation and presence of a side marker placed clear of anatomy of interest

• Air filled upper airway, from pharynx to the proximal trachea

• Radiographic density should be such to visualize the pharyngolaryngeal structures. Bony trabecular detail

• No rotation, with spinous processes equidistant to the pedicles and aligned with the midline of the cervical bodies

Which of the following are evaluation criteria for the lateral soft tissue neck (upper airway) projection?

• evidence of proper collimation and presence of a side marker placed clear of anatomy of interest

• No rotation or tilt of the cervical spine

• Radiographic density should be such to visualize the pharyngolaryngeal structures. Bony trabecular detail

• Superimposed zygapophyseal joints and open intervertebral joints

• Mandibular shadows (rami and angles) should be superimposed or nearly superimposed

On the lateral projection, how much should the head be extended?

Slightly

True or false:

On the lateral projection, the shoulders should be elevated to demonstrate proper breathing technique

False

The nasopharynx is situated just posterior to the ______ and just superior to the _____

Nasal septum, soft and hard palates

The _____ extends from the soft palate to the level of the hyoid bone

Oropharynx

The _____ extends from the larynx inferiorly to become continuous with the _____

Laryngopharynx, esophagus

The act of swallowing is termed ______

Deglutition

In order to have air filling of the piriform recesses and the laryngopharynx, the _____ would be utilized

Modified valsalva maneuver

Match the following anatomy to its correct location on this posterior view of the soft tissue structures of the anterior neck

Match the following anatomy to its correct location on this lateral view of the soft tissue structures of the anterior neck