Chest - Left Lateral (Erect)
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Radiographic Positioning
Adult | Other related pages of interest |
Name of projection | Chest - Left Lateral (Erect) |
Area Covered | Lung fields, apices, costophrenic angles |
Pathology shown | Pathology posterior to the heart, great vessels and sternum |
Radiographic Anatomy | Chest Radiographic Anatomy |
IR Size & Orientation | 35 x 43 cm Portrait |
Film / Screen Combination | Regular (CR and DR as recommended by manufacturer) |
Bucky / Grid | Moving or Stationary Grid |
Filter | No |
Exposure | 110 kVp 8 mAs |
FFD / SID | 180 cm |
Central Ray | Directed to the mid coronal plane at the level of T7 Perpendicular to the IR |
Collimation | Centre: The mid coronal plane at the level of T7 Shutter A: Open to include the skin margins anteriorly and posteriorly Shutter B: Open to include lung apices superiorly (this is at the C7 level) and to include the diaphragm inferiorly |
Markers | Use a left "L" marker to indicate the side closest to the IR Superior and Anterior Marker orientation AP |
Shielding | Gonadal (check your department's policy guidelines) |
Respiration | On suspended inspiration, (gives full lung aeration) |
Positioning |
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Critique | Positioning
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Special Notes | Patient rotation vs scoliosis When the patient is rotated, the posterior ribs will not be superimposed. The posterior ribs may also be not superimposed in a patient who has been correctly positioned for the Lateral Chest. This will occur if the patient has scoliosis of the thoracic spine. In these cases, adjusting the positioning will not correct this. Differences between a left and right lateral chest x-ray Left Lateral Chest - The heart is less magnified Right Lateral Chest - The heart is more magnified The left hemidiaphragm projects lower than the right hemidiphragm |