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 vii
Acknowledgements viii
Learning objectives checklist ix
Part 1 1. Introduction to X-rays 1
What are X-rays? 1
How are X-rays produced? 1
How do X-rays make an image? 2
The 5 densities on an X-ray 2
How are X-ray images (radiographs) stored?
Hazards and precautions 3
Ionising radiation hazards 3
The Ionising Radiation (Medical Exposure) Regulations (IRMER) 3
In women of reproductive age 3
2. Chest X-ray views 4
PA erect chest X-ray 4
Other views 4
3. Radiograph quality 5
Inclusion 5
Rotation 5
Inspiration 6
4. Normal anatomy on a PA chest X-ray 5
Right and left 5
Lung zones 5
The mediastinum 6
Normal pulmonary vasculature 7
Normal anatomy 1 8
Normal anatomy 2 8
Bronchial and lobar anatomy 9
5. Presenting a chest radiograph 10
Part 2 Overview of the ABCDE of chest X-rays 14
6. A - Airway 15
Tracheal deviation 21
Carinal angle 22
7. B - Breathing 16
Consolidation/Airspace opacification 23
Air bronchogram 27
Collapse (atelectasis) overview 29
Right upper lobe collapse 30
Middle lobe collapse 31
Right lower lobe collapse 32
Left upper lobe collapse 34
Left lower lobe collapse 36
Complete lung collapse 38
Pneumonectomy 39
Solitary mass lesion 41
Multiple mass lesions 44
Cavitating lung lesion 47
Fibrosis 49
Pneumothorax 53
Tension pneumothorax 56
Hydropneumothorax 58
Pleural effusion 60
Pulmonary oedema 65
‘Bat’s wing’ pattern opacification 67
Septal lines 69
Asbestos-related lung disease
Benign pleural disease
Asbestosis
Mesothelioma
8. C – Circulation 18
Dextrocardia 71
Cardiomegaly (enlarged heart) 72
Left atrial enlargement 73
Widened mediastinum 74
Hilar enlargement 77
Hiatus hernia 79
9. D – Disability 19
Fractures 80
Sclerotic and lucent bone lesions
10. E – Everything else (review areas) 20
Gas under the diaphragm (pneumoperitoneum) 82
Subcutaneous emphysema/surgical emphysema 84
Mastectomy 87
Medical and surgical objects (iatrogenic)
Foreign bodies 88
Part 3 Common conditions and their radiological signs 94
Pulmonary embolism (PE) 94
Primary lung malignancy 94
Pneumonia 95
Chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) 97
Heart failure
Tuberculosis (TB) 98
Glossary 122
Index 128
