Deck 8: Radiologic Examination of the Chest

Question 1

For most chest x-ray studies, what is usually done?

A) There is a full exhalation.
B) There is a full inspiration.
C) Separate inspiratory and expiratory films are taken.
D) The patient is told to pant to provide a middle lung volume.

Answer 1

There is a full inspiration.

Question 2

The respiratory therapist is called to evaluate a patient with a suspected pleural effusion. The respiratory therapist would most likely recommend which of the following chest radiographic views to help determine if the patient has a pleural effusion?

A) An AP film
B) A PA film
C) A left lateral film
D) A lateral decubitus film

Answer 2

A lateral decubitus film

Question 3

Which of the following would be normal findings of the heart and its surrounding area?
1) The left hilum is about 2 cm higher than the right hilum.
2) Most of the heart shadow is to the right of the sternum.
3) Calcified lymph nodes indicate an adult patient.
4) The cardiothoracic ratio is less than 1:2.

A)1, 4
B)2, 3
C)1, 2, 4
D)2, 3, 4

Answer 3

1, 4

Question 4

The respiratory therapist is reviewing the electronic medical record of a patient in the medical ICU. In reading the most recent chest radiograph interpretation, the therapist notes that the cardiothoracic ratio is stated to be less than 1:2 on the PA view. How should the therapist interpret this information?

A) This is a normal cardiothoracic ratio.
B) This is a decreased cardiothoracic ratio.
C) This ratio shows hyperinflation of the lung fields with subsequent air trapping.
D) This interpretation should be ignored because it is inaccurate in the PA view.

Question 5

The respiratory therapist is called to evaluate a patient with a suspected pulmonary embolus. The respiratory therapist would most likely recommend which of the following diagnostic procedures to help determine if the patient has a pulmonary embolus?

A) CTPA
B) Fluoroscopy
C) PET scan
D) MRI scan

Question 6

A patient has a long smoking history and has recently coughed up blood. The physician suspects that there may be lung cancer, but no lesions can be seen on a standard chest radiograph. A CT scan offers which of the following advantages?
1) Bronchial tumors can be seen.
2) Lung tumors as small as 0.4 cm can be seen.
3) A tumor's metabolism can be identified.
4) A mediastinal mass can be seen.

A)1, 3
B)1, 2, 4
C)2, 3, 4
D)1, 2, 3

Question 7

A patient has had a ventilation-perfusion scan. What would be identified from the ventilation scan?

A) Location of a lung abscess
B) Alveolar consolidation
C) Location of a pulmonary embolism
D) Location of an airway obstruction

Question 8

The respiratory therapist is reviewing the transthoracic echocardiogram of a patient. The images are very poor. What other type of imaging study can they suggest to the physician to improve the image quality?

A) A transesophageal echocardiogram
B) A stress echocardiogram
C) A color Doppler
D) Fluoroscopy

Question 9

Which of the following are evaluated on a chest radiograph?
1) Examination of baby in pregnant women
2) Exposure quality
3) The heart shadow
4) The tracheobronchial tree

A)4
B)1, 4
C)1, 2, 4
D)2, 3, 4

Question 10

The heart shadow on a chest radiograph will show up larger than normal on a(n):

A) AP film.
B) PA film.
C) left lateral film.
D) computed tomography (CT) scan.

Question 11

The chest radiograph shows blunting of the patient's costophrenic angles. What does this suggest?

A) The patient did not take a deep enough breath.
B) Lung cancer.
C) Pleural fluid.
D) Underpenetrated exposure on the film.

Question 12

A PET/CT scan can provide which of the following?
1) Early detection of cancer metastasis
2) Accurate staging of cancer
3) Radiation treatment of the cancer
4) Activation of chemotherapy drugs within the tumor

A)1, 2
B)3, 4
C)1, 2, 4
D)1, 2, 3

Question 13

Which of the following is true of a chest radiograph?

A) Lateral films are shot through one side of an upright patient.
B) AP films are typically taken in the x-ray department.
C) PA films artificially increase the size of the heart shadow.
D) Lateral decubitus films are shot with the patient lying supine.

Question 14

Which of the following can be identified by pulmonary angiography?
1) Pulmonary emboli
2) Coronary artery occlusions
3) Arteriovenous malformations
4) Cause of hemoptysis

A)4
B)1, 3
C)2, 3, 4
D)1, 2, 3