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. The A, B, C, D, E method is helpful for approaching a chest x-ray in a systematic manner. However, before jumping into the film, you need to perform an initial review.
Reference article
This is a summary article; we do not have a more in-depth reference article.
Summary
-
who, what, where, why and when
- whose film is it?
- John Smith, DOB 12 Jan 1952
- what are you looking at?
- PA chest x-ray
- where was it done?
- ED
- why was it done?
- increased shortness of breath
- when was it performed?
- 21 Jun 2014, 14:45
- whose film is it?
-
quality
- rotation
- medial ends of the clavicles equidistant from the spinous processes
- inspiration
- diaphragm at 10-11 posterior ribs on the left
- penetration
- intervertebral discs of the mid-thoracic spine should be clearly visible
- this is less important now than in the predigital film era, as digital images can be re-windowed
- intervertebral discs of the mid-thoracic spine should be clearly visible
- rotation