Radiology lab practical

Radiographic positioning

- Lateral thorax

- Measure: caudal border of the scapula

- Beam: caudal border of the scapula

- Borders: spine, sternum, cranial point of shoulder, caudal to last rib

Radiographic positioning

- VD thorax

- Measure: caudal border of scapula

- beam: midline and caudal border of scapula

- Borders: cranial point of shoulder, caudal to last rib

Radiographic positioning

- lateral abdomen

- Measure: caudal aspect of 13th rib

- Beam: dog - caudal aspect of 13th rib/ cat - 2-3 fingers with caudal to last rib

- Borders: 1 inch cranial to xiphoid and caudally to the greater trochanter

Radiographic positioning

- VD abdomen

- Measure: caudal aspect of 13th rib at the level of the umbilicus

- Beam: dog - midline and caudal aspect of the 13th rib/ cat - 2-3 finger widths caudal to last rib

- Border: 1 inch cranial to xiphoid and caudal to the greater trochanter

Radiographic positioning

- Lateral pelvis

- Measure: at the level of the greater trochanter

- Beam: greater trochanter

- Borders: cranial to the wing of the ilium and caudal to the ischium, 1/3 of femur distally

Radiographic positioning

- VD pelvis extended view

- Measure: thickest part of the pelvis

- Beam: midline between the caudal pubis/ ischia

- Borders dorsally to the tip of the iliac wing and caudal to include the patellas

Radiographic positioning

- VD pelvis frog leg

- Measure: thickest part of the pelvis

- beam: midline between the caudal pubis/ischia

- Borders: dorsally to the tip of the iliac wings, caudal to the caudal border of the ischium, include 1/3 of each femur

Radiographic positioning

- Lateral elbow

- Measure: thickest part of the elbow at the distal humerus

- Beam: distal humeral condyles

- Borders: distal 1/3 of the humerus and proximal 1/3 of the radius and ulna

Radiographic positioning

- Lateral flexed elbow

- Measure: thickest part of the elbow at the distal humerus in a flexed position

- Beam: distal humeral condyles

-Borders: distal 1/3 of the humerus and proximal 1/3 of the radius and Una

Radiographic positioning

- Craniocaudal elbow/AP

- Measure: thickest part of the elbow at the distal humerus

- Beam: distal humeral condyles

- Borders: distal 1/3 of the humerus and proximal 1/3 of the radius and ulna

Radiographic positioning

- Lateral stifle

- Measure: distal end of the femur

- beam: intercondylar fossa

- Borders: proximal 1/3 of the tibia and distal 1/3 of the femur

Radiographic positioning

- Craniocaudal stifle/AP

- Measure: distal end of femur

- Beam: on the stifle joint

- borders: proximal 1/3 of the tibia and distal 1/3 of the femur

How would you proceed if your radiograph is too light and you can see structures?

Increase MAS 30-50%

How would you proceed if your radiograph is too light and you cannot see structures?

Increase KVP 10-15%

How would you proceed if your radiograph is too dark and the contrast is good (bone is very white)

Decrease MAS 30-50%

How would you proceed if your radiograph is too dark and the contrast is poor? (Everything is gray)

Decrease KVP 10-15%

Is the film too light or too dark chart

X-ray anatomy chest picture

X-ray anatomy abdomen picture

X-ray anatomy pelvis picture

X-ray anatomy front leg picture

X-ray anatomy hind leg picture

Why do we take x-rays on inhalation for chest views?

To show full lung fields

Why do we take expiration for abdominal views

Pushes diaphragm up, which causes the organs to decompress

If you want to look at the left side of the lungs, how would you position the patient?

Right lateral

If you wanna look at the right side of the lungs, how would you position the patient?

Left lateral

If you wanna look at the left side of the patient for abdomen, how would you position the patient?

Left lateral

If you wanna look at the right side of the patient for an abdomen, how would you position the patient?

Right lateral

What are the positive types of contrast media?

- Barium sulfate

- Water soluble organic iodines

- BIPS

What contrast medias would be used for G.I. series?

- Barium sulfate

- Oral organic iodine

- BIPS

What is the agent of choice for suspected G.I. preparation/obstruction?

Oral organic iodine

What are the types of negative contrast medias

- Room air

- 02

- CO2

- NO2

Double contrast procedures are commonly used in

- Bladder

- Stomach

- colon

Why must you give the negative contrast before the positive contrast for a double contrast procedure?

Decrease air bubbles, which may be mistaken for lesions/artifacts

What are the indications for G.I. studies?

- V/D

- Melena/hematochezia

- FBO/FBI

- Acute abdomen/pain

-enteric mass

- Assesses G.I. transit time

What are the contraindications for G.I. studies?

- Fluid/gas filled esophagus or stomach

- GDV

What are the indications for a lower G.I. study?

- Abnormal defecation

- Stricture

- Obstruction

- colon/Rectal neoplasia

What are the indications for esophagram?

- Dysphasia

- Megaesophagus

- Chronic gagging/retching

- Foreign bodies

- Abnormal swallowing

Towards the tongue

lingual

Towards the palate

Palatial

Surface of incisors that face the lip

Labial

Lateral surfaces of all teeth, except the incisors

Buccal

Direction towards the last tooth in each quadrant

Distal

Direction towards the anterior or first tooth of each quadrant

Mesial

Used for grasping and cutting food

Single rooted

Incisors

Used for grasping and holding

Single rooted

Canines

Designed for cutting/shearing

Single to three rooted

Premolars

Often flattened occlusal services used for grinding

Double to three rooted

Molars

Tooth anatomy picture

Modified triadan system dog picture

Modified triadan system cat picture

- The plate/film sensor in long axis of the tooth/teeth are parallel to each other

- Tube head/beam will be perpendicular to the plate and tooth

Parallel angle technique

Parallel angle technique photo

Is formed by the intersection of the film plane and the long axis of the tooth

The tube head is perpendicular to the BA

Bisecting angle technique

Bisecting angle technique photo

Simplified technique canine/incisors

Simplified technique: maxillary pre-molars/molars

Simplified technique: Mandibular incisors/canines

Simplified technique: mandibular premolars/molars

What are the two methods to diagnose hip dysplasia?

- OFA

- Pennhip

What does OFA stand for?

Orthopedic Foundation for Animals

What does PennHIP stand for?

Pennsylvania Hip Improvement Program

- Focus primarily on detecting the presence of hip dysplasia

- provides certification on overall appearance of hips

- Often used to determine if a dog is suitable for breeding

- Dog must be two years of age

- VD and lateral pelvis views required

OFA

- Measures joint laxity to predict future development of hip dysplasia

- Dogs must be 16 weeks of age

- Extension, distraction, compression views required

- a score is calculated to predict a dog's potential for developing hip dysplasia

Pennhip

What must you do before taking x-rays on horses?

- Clean the entire leg of debris

- Pick hoof

What are some indications for x-rays on horses?

- Laminitis

- Arthritis

- Hole/Derogation

- Fractured splint bones

- Slab fracture

When taking x-rays on horses, what should you be aware of?

- No sudden movements

- Keep a hand on them at all time

- Never stand behind them

- Let the horse examine x-ray equipment before starting

The ability of various tissues to return a sound wave

Echogenicity

Tissues, that generally do not have the ability to bounce back sound waves, usually appear black on scans

Anechoic tissue

Tissues that have limited ability to reflect sound waves back to the source, will appear various shades of gray

Hypochoic tissue

Tissues, that easily bounce back waves back to the transducer, produce image that are brighter in appearance

Hyperchoic tissue

Weakening of the sound waves as it moves through tissue

this is one of the factors that limits the depth of perception

Attenuation

Process where sound waves are not reflected back, but instead converted into heat

Absorption

Redirection of the beam back to the transducer

Reflection

Inter-Tissue reflection of the sound wave

Scattering

What should face the head when using the ultrasound probe

The little notch on the transducer

What is the most important component of a ultrasound machine?

Piezoelectric crystals

How would fluid appear on ultrasound?

Black/Anechoic

How would soft tissues appear on ultrasound?

Grey/Hypochoic

How would bone/air look on an ultrasound?

White/Hyperchoic

What does FAST ultrasound stand for

Focused Assessment with Sonography in Trauma

A rapid ultrasound examination often performed in emergency situations, used to assess for free fluid in the abdominal cavity, pericardial spaces, and/or plural spaces, which can indicate trauma

FAST ultrasound

What does POCUS ultrasound stand for

Point of care

A bedside diagnostic imaging technique used to quickly assess a patient's condition

POCUS

Back of four limbs from the carpet and distal

Palmar

Back of hind limbs from the hock distal

Plantar

Towards the head

cranial

Away from the head end or toward the end hind of the body

Caudal

Nearest to the point of origin of a structure

Proximal

Farther from the point of origin

distal

Laying on side

recumbent

Top of back

dorsal

Bottom of stomach

ventral

Closest to the midline

medial

Farther from the midline

lateral

Anterior posterior

AP

DV

Dorsal ventral

VD

ventral dorsal

These films will always appear black

- Totally black: no patient or really bad technique

- Black with an image: you did something right

Exposed and processed

These are always clear

Unexposed and processed