Chest x-ray review is a key competency for medical students, junior doctors and other allied health professionals. Using A, B, C, D, E is a helpful and systematic method for chest x-ray review where D refers to disability and specifically fractures and dislocations.
Summary
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introduction
- there are lots of bones on a chest x-ray
- check for a fracture or other pathology, e.g. bone metastases
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procedure
- trace each of the ribs from posterior to anterior
- check the clavicles
- check the proximal humeri
- check the scapula
- look at each vertebral body
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checklist
- ribs for any evidence of fracture
- ribs for a lucent or destructive lesion
- shoulders (acromioclavicular and glenohumeral joints)
- clavicles
- vertebral bodies (loss of height)