Finger (PA view)

Fingers PA view is a standard projection for radiographic assessment of the fingers.

Patient position

• patient is seated alongside the table (similar to projection of hand)
• palmar aspect of pronated hand is placed over cassette and extended fingers are kept in its contact with little separation, allowing interphalangeal joint spaces to appear open.

X-ray beam features

• vertical beam

  Collimation:

  To include finger of interest to mid metacarpal, centring approximately over the proximal interphalangeal joint. Include adjacent finger on one view on the series.

  If there is employed

• centredany suspected joint involvement, centre to a point over proximal interphalangeal joint of the finger which is suspected to be involved

Marker Placement: AP, lateral and distal

Grid: No

SID: 100cm

Exposure Factors: 48 kV, 1 mAs

Please Note:These are average exposures using a Siemens DR system. Exposures may vary between different CR or DR systems and with different patient body habitus.

Image Critique

Collimation

Figure 2:Entire 5th digit is visualised to mid metacarpal. Adjacent finger is included so the 5th finger can be easily identified. Long axis of fingers should be positioned running parallel in the field of view, allowing for tighter collimation (see Figure 1).

Positioning

5th finger is positioned PA, but with very slight rotation, evidenced by the slightly asymmetric appearance of the concavities of the phalanges. Interphalangeal joint spaces appear open.

Exposure

Appropriate exposure evidenced by adequate bony detail visible in entire finger, with soft tissue visualised clearly.