Radiology Lab Rules and PA Chest Procedures

Lab Rules

• TLD badges are mandatory while in the labs, failure to do so will be penalized
• Only authorized personnel are allowed in the lab
• Protective clothing such as enclosed footwear and UON placement uniform must be worn
• Eating, drinking, or smoking is strictly prohibited in the lab

Radiation Rules

• Do not expose radiation without the lab tutor's permission
• Imaging fellow students is forbidden
• Always close the door before exposing
• Ensure the lab is empty before exposing
• Follow the lab supervisor's guidance

PA Chest

• The image receptor size is 35x43cm
• kVp for adults is 90-110 kVp
• mAs is approximately 1.2 mAs
• The central ray should be directed at the mid-sagittal plane, at the level of T7
• The anatomy should include the lung apices to the costophrenic angles, laterally to the skin border
• Breathing should be suspended at inspiration
• Pt prep - remove artifacts such as clothing, jewelry

PA Chest Criteria

• The image should include the lung apices to the costophrenic angles
• No rotation, both clavicles should be equidistant from the sternum
• Visualization of the lungs, trachea, heart, great vessels, diaphragm, costophrenic angles, and bony thorax
• The vertebral bodies of the thoracic spine should be just visible through the cardiac shadow
• Markers should be evident
• The image should have appropriate identification or deliberately anonymised

PA Oblique Hand

• The central ray should be directed at the 3rd MCP joint
• The distance should be 100-110cm
• kVp is 50kVp
• mAs is 2mAs

PA Oblique Hand Criteria

• The image should include all the anatomy and skin edges
• The midshafts of the third, fourth, and fifth metacarpals should not overlap
• The tips of the digits to the distal radius and ulna should be visualized
• The cortical outline and bony trabecular pattern should be clearly demonstrated
• Markers should be evident
• The image should have appropriate identification or deliberately anonymised

Lateral Hand

• The central ray should be directed at the level of the MCP joint
• The distance should be 100-110cm
• kVp is 55kVp
• mAs is 2.5mAs

Lateral Hand Criteria

• The image should include all the anatomy and skin edges
• The tips of the digits to the distal radius and ulna should be visualized
• The cortical outline and bony trabecular pattern should be clearly demonstrated

Lateral Finger (Digits 2-5)

• The central ray should be directed at the level of the joint in focus (PIPJ or DIPJ)
• The distance should be 100-110cm
• kVp is 50kVp
• mAs is 2mAs

Lateral Finger Criteria

• The image should include all the anatomy and skin edges
• The tips of the digits to the distal metacarpal should be visualized
• The cortical outline and bony trabecular pattern should be clearly demonstrated

PA Oblique Finger Criteria

• The image should include all the anatomy and skin edges
• The tips of the digits to the distal metacarpal should be visualized
• The cortical outline and bony trabecular pattern should be clearly demonstrated
• Markers should be evident
• The image should have appropriate identification or deliberately anonymised

AP Thumb

• The central ray should be directed at the 1st MCP joint
• The distance should be 100-110cm
• kVp is 50kVp
• mAs is 2mAs

Lateral Thumb Criteria

• The image should include all the anatomy and skin edges
• The tips of the thumb to the trapezium should be visualized
• The cortical outline and bony trabecular pattern should be clearly demonstrated
• Markers should be evident
• The image should have appropriate identification or deliberately anonymised