X-ray image ● Diagnostic imaging technique ● Ionization of electromagnetic radiation is used to take image of body structure ○ Bones + other dense tissues ● Passes through body, absorbed differently depending on tissue types ● Dense structures => white ○ Bones ○ White because it absorbs more ● Soft tissue => grey ● Air filled area => black ● X-ray will create 2D image of interior of patients ● Quick inexpensive ○ Available widely (clinics ER) ○ Able to catch bones and foreign obj ○ Almost no prep are required ● Ionization could expose patient and operator to radiation Structure Tissue Type Appearance Heart Soft tissue Light grey Denser than lungs Lungs Air-filled tissue Black most X-rays to pass through Diaphragm Soft tissue/muscle Light grey dome-shaped Blood vessels Soft tissue Grey against lung Contrast used ● Iodine based contrast agent ○ Angiography ○ IVU ○ Barium swallow for GI imaging ● Can see blood vessels in higher contrast Can see more blood vessels in barium contrast (right) image It Xray also cannot go through this.acts like bone don’t have health issues with patients ● Posteroanterior (PA) chest X-ray) ○ Lung nodules ■ Presence in right upper lobe ■ Less than 1 cm rarely visible in right photo, but with contrast is greatly visible ■ Lung mass 2) less than 3 cm = same as lobe 1 ■ Hilar Enlargement ● Indicates central mass ● Increased lymph nodes ■ Cardiac silhouette ● Normal size in lung cancer ● Could be pericardial effusion / adenopathy ■ Bones could be seen in the posterior ● Visible ribs, clavicles ■ Diaphragmes ● Elevation indicates phrenic nerve palsy