Welcome to basics of CXR, this is part two of this series, read my previous post part 1, in the next post we will be exploring about the silhouette sign and Hidden areas of the lung. You can print this page by clicking on the print option on right side, at the end of this post.
Chest X-Rays (CXR) are routine investigation in clinical practice and consequently it is important for medical students and clinician’s alike to know how to interpret them. There are many approaches to CXR interpretation, each trying to ensure that key abnormalities are identified and no area is overlooked.
Many people would be familiar with the ABC method to interpreting CXRs.
- Airways
- Breathing & Bones
- Circulation
This is a simple way of approaching CXR, and it works for many people, however some people still struggle using this approach.
DRSABCD is a familiar acronym for those who have undertaken First Aid/Basic Life Support courses. NowDRSABCDE can used as a simple, yet comprehensive, approach to CXR interpretation.
D – Details
Before you even begin interpreting a CXR you should have the correct details. This includes;
- Patient name, age / DOB, sex
- Type of film – PA or AP, erect or supine, correct L/R marker, inspiratory/expiratory series
- Date and time of study
R – RIPE (assessing the image quality)
Next up, how “ripe” is the image. That is, what is the technical quality of the film?
- Rotation – medial clavicle ends equidistant from spinous process
- Inspiration – 5-6 anterior ribs in MCL or 8-10 posterior ribs above diaphragm, poor inspiration?, hyperexpanded?
- Picture – straight vs oblique, entire lung fields, scapulae outside lung fields, angulation (ie ’tilt’ in vertical plane)
- Exposure (Penetration) – IV disc spaces, spinous processes to ~T4, L) hemidiaphragm visible through cardiac shadow.
S – Soft tissues and bones
In CXR interpretation it is common to leave soft tissues until the end.
- Ribs, sternum, spine, clavicles – symmetry, fractures, dislocations, lytic lesions, density
- Soft tissues – looking for symmetry, swelling, loss of tissue planes, subcutaneous air, masses
- Breast shadows
- Calcification – great vessels, carotids
A – Airway & mediastinum
- Trachea – central or slightly to right lung as crosses aortic arch
- Paratracheal/mediastinal masses or adenopathy
- Carina & RMB/LMB
- Mediastinal width <8cm on PA film
- Aortic knob
- Hilum – T6-7 IV disc level, left hilum is usually higher (2cm) and squarer than the V-shaped right hilum.
- Check vessels, calcification.
B – Breathing
- Lung fields
- Vascularity – to ~2cm of pleural surface (~3cm in apices), vessels in bases > apices
- Pneumothorax – don’t forget apices
- Lung field outlines – abnormal opacity/lucency, atelectasis, collapse, consolidation, bullae
- Horizontal fissure on Right Lung
- Pulmonary infiltrates – interstitial vs alveolar pattern
- Coin lesions
- Cavitary lesions
- Pleura
- Pleural reflections
- Pleural thickening
C – Circulation
- Heart position –⅔ to left, ⅓ to right
- Heart size – measure cardiothoracic ratio on PA film (normal <0.5)
- Heart borders – R) border is R) atrium, L) border is L) ventricle & atrium
- Heart shape
- Aortic stripe
D – Diaphragm
- Hemidiaphragm levels – Right Lung higher than Left Lung (~2.5cm / 1 intercostal space)
- Diaphragm shape/contour
- Cardiophrenic and costophrenic angles – clear and sharp
- Gastric bubble / colonic air
- Subdiaphragmatic air (pneumoperitoneum)
E – Extras
- ETT, CVP line, NG tube, PA catheters, ECG electrodes, PICC line, chest tube
- PPM, AIDC, metalwork
