Chest X-rays for Medical Students offers a fresh analytical approach to identifying chest abnormalities, helping medical students, junior doctors, and nurses understand the underlying physics and basic anatomical and pathological details of X-ray images of the chest. The authors provide a memorable framework for analysing and presenting chest radiographs, with each radiograph appearing twice in a side-by-side comparison, one as seen in a clinical setting and the second highlighting the pathology.
This new second edition includes significant revisions, improved annotations of X-rays, expanded pathologies, and numerous additional high-quality images. A comprehensive one-stop guide to learning chest radiograph interpretation, this book:
- Aligns with the latest Royal College of Radiologists’ Undergraduate Radiology Curriculum
- Offers guidance on how to formulate normal findings
- Features self-assessment tests, presentation exercises, and varied examples
- Includes sections on radiograph quality X-ray hazards and precautions
Chest X-rays for Medical Students is an ideal study guide and clinical reference for any medical student, junior doctor, nurse or radiographer.
Table of Contents
Preface to the 2nd Edition ix
Acknowledgements xi
Learning objectives checklist xiii
About the companion website xv
Part I Introduction to X-rays 1
1 Introduction to X-rays 3
What are X-rays? 3
How are X-rays produced? 3
How do X-rays make an image? 4
The five densities on an X-ray 4
How are X-ray images (radiographs) stored? 4
Hazards and precautions 5
2 Chest X-ray views 7
PA erect chest X-ray 7
Other views 8
3 Radiograph quality 9
Inclusion 9
Rotation 10
Inspiration 11
4 Normal anatomy on a PA chest X-ray 13
Right and left 13
Lung zones 14
The mediastinum 14
Normal pulmonary vasculature 15
General anatomy 16
Bronchial and lobar anatomy: Figure 4.8 17
5 Presenting a chest radiograph 19
Example of presenting a normal chest X-ray 19
Part II The ABCDE of chest X-rays 21
6 A - Airway 23
How to review the airway 23
What to look for 24
Tracheal deviation 24
Carinal angle 25
7 B - Breathing 27
How to review the lungs 27
What to look for 28
Consolidation/airspace opacification 29
Air bronchogram 31
Collapse (atelectasis) overview 32
Pneumonectomy 41
Solitary mass lesion 44
Multiple mass lesions 47
Cavitating lung lesion 48
Fibrosis 50
Pneumothorax 53
Tension pneumothorax 55
Hydropneumothorax 56
Pleural effusion 57
Pulmonary oedema 60
Septal lines 64
Asbestos-related lung disease 65
8 C - Circulation 69
How to review the heart and mediastinum 69
What to look for 69
Dextrocardia 69
Cardiomegaly (enlarged heart) 70
Left atrial enlargement 71
Widened mediastinum 72
Hilar enlargement 76
Hiatus hernia 78
9 D - Disability 79
How to review the bones 79
What to look for 80
Fractures 80
Sclerotic and lucent bone lesions 81
10 E - Everything else (review areas) 83
How to look at the review areas 83
What to look for 83
Gas under the diaphragm (pneumoperitoneum) 84
Subcutaneous emphysema/surgical emphysema 86
Mastectomy 87
Medical and surgical objects (iatrogenic) 88
Foreign bodies 99
Part III Common conditions and their radiological signs 101
11 Common conditions and their radiological signs 103
Pulmonary embolism (PE) 103
Primary lung malignancy 103
Pneumonia 104
Chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) 104
Heart failure 105
Tuberculosis 106
Glossary 111
Index 119
