Chest x-ray - an approach (summary)
Updates to Article Attributes
This is a basic article for medical students and other non-radiologists
Chest x-ray review is a key competency for medical students, junior doctors and other allied health professionals. Chest radiographs are frequently performed and a fantastic tool for making diagnoses of acute and chronic conditions, as well as acting as a tool for follow up-up.
Be systematicReference article
There are many systematic ways to reviewThis is a chest x-raysummary article; we do not have a more in-depth reference article. The important thing is to
Summary
-
be systematic
- get into
thea habitof having a systematic approach. If you - do the same thing every time
you look at a chest x-ray, you will be much less likely to make a mistake.Initial
- get into
-
initial review
Start off the same way each time you look at a film. Every time you look at an x-ray or other scan, think about:- who, what, why, where and when
- quality
Read more:initial reviewLines -
lines and tubes
After the initial look at the films, it is really important to-
always review
thelines and tubesthat are present. It gives you an idea of how sick the patient is, and in addition, allows you tofirst - check
that they are in the correctposition.Read more:lines and tubes
-
always review
- A, B, C, D, E
Using theA, B, C, D, E approachyou can use the headings employed in ALS (advanced life support) to prompt you to look at things in the correct order:-
A:airway -
B:breathing (lungs and pleural spaces) -
C:circulation (cardiomediastinum) -
D:disability (bones... think fracture) -
E:exposure (everything else)
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-<h6>This is a basic article for medical students and other non-radiologists</h6><p><strong>Chest x-ray review</strong> is a key competency for medical students, junior doctors and other allied health professionals. Chest radiographs are frequently performed and a fantastic tool for making diagnoses of acute and chronic conditions, as well as acting as a tool for follow up.</p><h4>Be systematic</h4><p>There are many systematic ways to review a chest x-ray. The important thing is to get into the habit of having a systematic approach. If you do the same thing every time you look at a chest x-ray, you will be much less likely to make a mistake.</p><h4>Initial review</h4><p>Start off the same way each time you look at a film. Every time you look at an x-ray or other scan, think about:</p><ul>- +<p><strong>Chest x-ray review</strong> is a key competency for medical students, junior doctors and other allied health professionals. Chest radiographs are frequently performed and a fantastic tool for making diagnoses of acute and chronic conditions, as well as acting as a tool for follow-up.</p><h4>Reference article</h4><p>This is a <a href="/articles/summary-article">summary article</a>; we do not have a more in-depth reference article.</p><h4>Summary</h4><ul>
- +<li>be systematic<ul>
- +<li>get into a habit</li>
- +<li>do the same thing every time</li>
- +</ul>
- +</li>
- +<li>
- +<a title="Chest x-ray: initial review (summary)" href="/articles/chest-x-ray-initial-review-summary">initial review</a><ul>
-</ul><p>Read more: <a href="/articles/chest-x-ray-basic-initial-review">initial review</a></p><h4>Lines and tubes</h4><p>After the initial look at the films, it is really important to review the lines and tubes that are present. It gives you an idea of how sick the patient is, and in addition, allows you to check that they are in the correct position. </p><p>Read more: <a href="/articles/chest-x-ray-basic-lines-and-tubes">lines and tubes</a></p><h4>A, B, C, D, E</h4><p>Using the <a href="/articles/chest-x-ray-basic-a-b-c-d-e">A, B, C, D, E approach</a> you can use the headings employed in ALS (advanced life support) to prompt you to look at things in the correct order:</p><ul>-<li>-<strong>A</strong>: <a href="/articles/chest-x-ray-basic-airway">airway</a>- +</ul>
-<strong>B</strong>: <a href="/articles/chest-x-ray-basic-breathing">breathing</a> (lungs and pleural spaces)</li>-<li>-<strong>C</strong>: <a href="/articles/chest-x-ray-basic-circulation">circulation</a> (cardiomediastinum)</li>-<li>-<strong>D</strong>: <a href="/articles/chest-x-ray-basic-disability">disability</a> (bones... think fracture)</li>- +<a title="Chest x-ray: lines and tubes (summary)" href="/articles/chest-x-ray-lines-and-tubes-summary">lines and tubes</a><ul>
- +<li>always review lines and tubes first</li>
- +<li>check position</li>
- +</ul>
- +</li>
-<strong>E</strong>: <a href="/articles/chest-x-ray-basic-exposure">exposure</a> (everything else)</li>- +<a title="Chest x-ray: A, B, C, D, E (summary)" href="/articles/chest-x-ray-a-b-c-d-e-summary">A, B, C, D, E</a><ul>
- +<li>airway</li>
- +<li>breathing (lungs and pleural spaces)</li>
- +<li>circulation (cardiomediastinum)</li>
- +<li>disability (bones... think fracture)</li>
- +<li>exposure (everything else)</li>
- +</ul>
- +</li>
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