Sternum - RAO

Radiographic Positioning

Adult

Other related pages of interest Applied Radiography Radiographic Anatomy Radiographic Protocols

Name of projection	Sternum - RAO
Area Covered	Entire sternum including sterno-clavicular joints
Pathology shown	Pathologies of the sternum, for example, fractures,
Radiographic Anatomy	Sternum Radiographic Anatomy
IR Size & Orientation	24 x 30 cm Portrait
Film / Screen Combination	Regular (CR and DR as recommended by manufacturer)
Bucky / Grid	Moving or Stationary Grid
Filter	No
Exposure	Breathing technique used 70 kVp 25 mA 3 seconds
FFD / SID	100 cm
Central Ray	Directed to the level of the mid sternum and slightly left of the midline Perpendicular to the IR
Collimation	Centre: Mid sternum (mid way between the jugular notch and the xiphoid process) Shutter A: Open to collimate to film size lengthwise, ensuring the jugular notch is included superiorly Shutter B: Open laterally to approximately 13 cm
Markers	Superior and Laterally Marker orientation PA (unless patient is supine, then marker is AP)
Shielding	Gonadal (check your department's policy guidelines)
Respiration	No suspension of breath - use the Breathing Technique to blur the lung markings. The exposure is taken while the patient is taking shallow breaths.
Positioning	The patient's presentation may dictate the method for positioning, for example Upright Patient (preferred method) Patient is erect with chest touching the bucky From this PA position, oblique the patient 15° in an Right Anterior Oblique (RAO) position, right shoulder touching the bucky Centre the sternum to the IR Supine Patient Patient supine on the table bucky Angle the central ray 15° from right to left across the patient Patient (effectively) prone this projection has the patient bending from the waist so that their sternum/chest is touching the table bucky. However, first..... place the film in the table bucky angle the X-ray tube 15 degrees so that is will be going from left to right across the patient collimate light field to the film size have the patient bend from the waist so that their sternum is flat resting on the table (adjust the table height so this is comfortable) align the long axis of the sternum to the long axis of the film, with the jugular notch at the top
Critique PACEMAN	Positioning Correct obliquity is demonstrated by the sternum is seen along side the spine without superimposition of the vertebrae the sternum is seen through the heart shadow Area Covered Entire sternum from the jugular notch superiorly to the xiphoid process inferiorly, and the sternoclavicular joints are seen Collimation Centre: Mid sternum Shutter A: Jugular notch and xiphoid sternum are included Shutter B: The lateral borders of the sternum and sterno-clavicular joints are included Exposure Correct breathing technique is used as evidenced by Lung markings are blurred Cortical outlines of the sternum are seen overlying the heart shadow
Special Notes