You can think of X-rays as high-energy photos that penetrate the body tissues so that we can see what’s going on inside. Just like visible light, X-rays are less likely to penetrate denser materials. Conventional X-rays that show white bones on a black background are like photographic negatives. The darkest parts of the film, like the lungs, are areas where more photons can penetrate the body. In contrast, the sharp, bright white areas are where the dense bone material blocks photons from getting through.
Let’s go through this chest X-ray using an easy-to-remember checklist - associated with the first 7 letters of the alphabet: ABCDEFG . A stands for Assessment . To avoid errors and wasted time, you should always begin by assessing the patient and exam data. You want to verify the patient’s data with the exam data (medical record number, date of the exam, etc.) to ensure that you are…
