Chest - PA Erect
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Radiographic Positioning
Adult | Other related pages of interest |
Name of projection | Chest - PA Erect |
Area Covered | Lung fields, apices, costophrenic angles, heart |
Pathology shown | Pleural effusions, pneumothorax, signs of infection, masses, nodules, atelectasis |
Radiographic Anatomy | Chest Radiographic Anatomy |
IR Size & Orientation | 35 x 43 cm Landscape usually, but may be portrait depending on body habitus D.R. may cover 43 x 43 cm |
Film / Screen Combination | Regular (CR and DR as recommended by manufacturer) |
Bucky / Grid | Moving or Stationary Grid |
Filter | Decubitus filter for women with large breasts, particularly for non-digital imaging |
Exposure | 100 kVp 4 mAs |
FFD / SID | 180 cm |
Central Ray | Directed to the midsaggital plane at the level of T7 Perpendicular to the IR |
Collimation | Centre: T7, or the inferior border of the scapula Shutter A: Open to approximately 5cm (2 inches) above the shoulder to include upper airway Shutter B: Open to the level of the acromioclavicular joints (AC joints) laterally. This will include the lung fields laterally. |
Markers | Superior and Lateral Marker orientation PA |
Shielding | Gonadal (check your department's policy guidelines) |
Respiration | On suspended deep inspiration Exposure may be taken on suspended full expiration when pneumothorax is suspected. |
Positioning |
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Critique | Positioning
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Special Notes | PA Erect Chest vs AP Supine Chest Where possible a PA Erect should be done instead of the AP Supine view. The AP Supine Chest view is taken when the patient is unable to be safely moved into the upright position. Differences or disadvantages of the AP Supine Chest view are;
The AP view shows magnification of the heart and widening of the mediastinum because they are anterior structures |