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Jun 19 2011, 2:39 PM EDT (current) AndyC 1 word added, 2 words deleted
May 19 2011, 1:06 PM EDT AndyC 3 words added, 10 words deleted

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Radiographic Positioning


Adult
Other related pages of interest

Name of projection Sternum - Lateral (Left or Right)
Area Covered Entire length of sternum in profile
Pathology shown Fractures
Radiographic Anatomy Sternum Radiographic Anatomy
IR Size & Orientation 24 x 30 cm
Portrait
Film / Screen Combination Regular
(CR and DR as recommended by manufacturer)
Bucky / Grid Moving or Stationary Grid
Filter No
Exposure 75 kVp
25 mAs
FFD / SID 100 cm
Central Ray Directed to the sternum, midway between the jugular notch and the xiphoid process
Collimation Centre: Mid sternum (midway between the jugular notch and the xiphoid process)
Shutter A: Open to the film lengthwise, ensuring the jugular notch is included superiorly
Shutter B: Open to include whole of sternum, collimate tightly. Note: take care to suspend respiration to keep the sternum within the tightly collimated field.
Markers Superior and Anterior (optional)
Marker indicates the side closest to the IR or bucky
Marker orientation AP
Shielding GonadalGonadal(check (check your department's policy guidelines)
Respiration On suspended inspiration
Positioning
  • Patient erect, with either side touching the bucky
  • Have the patient bring their hands together behind their back and push their chest out ('pigeon chested' position)
  • Ensure the patient is not rotated and the sternum is in a true lateral position
Critique

 Positioning
  • The patient is in a lateral position as evidenced by no superimpostion of ribs over the sternum
  • The patient is in a 'pigeon chested' position as evidenced by no superimposition on the sternum by
    • humerii
    • shoulders
    • soft tissue
Area Covered
  • The entire length of the sternum is seen in profile
Collimation
  • Centre: Mid sternum
  • Shutter A: Open to show the entire sternum from the jugular notch superiorly to the xiphoid sternum inferiorly
  • Shutter B: Tightly collimated to show the entire sternum in profile
Exposure
There should be adequate exposure so that
  • cortical outlines are sharply defined
  • the entire sternum is seen

Special Notes