Chest radiograph: checklist to examine
Patient details
Film details
Objects (e.g. lines, electrodes)
Rotation
Penetration
Expansion
Vessels
Hila
Costophrenic angles
Mediastinum
Cardiothoracic Ratio
Soft tissues and bones
Air (diaphragm, pneumothorax, subcut. emphysema)

 Mnemonic:
"Pamela Found Our Rotation Particularly Exciting; Very Highly Commended Mainly 'Cus She Arouses"

More mnemonics in this category

Anterior mediastinal masses
- 4 T's: Teratoma Thymoma Testicular-type T-cell / Hodgkin's lymphoma
Chest X-ray interpretation
AP or PA Body position Confirm name Date Exposure Films for comparison
Chest X-ray: cavitating lesions differential
Wegener's syndrome Embolic (pulmonary, septic) Infection (anaerobes, pneumocystis, TB) Rheumatoid (necrobiotic nodules) Developmental cysts (sequestration) Histiocytosis
Dermatomyositis or polymyositis: risk of underlying malignancy
- Risk is 30% at age 30. Risk is 40% at age 40, and so on.
Elbow ossification centers, in sequence
Radial head Internal epicondyle Trochlea Olecranon External epicondyle
Esophageal cancer: risk factors
Achalasia Barret's esophagus Corrosive esophagitis Diverticuliis Esophageal web Familial
Head CT scan: evaluation checklist
B lood Cistern Brain Ventricles Bone
Lung cancer: main sites for distant metastases
Bone Liver Adrenals Brain BLAB:
Lung cancer: notorious consequences
Superior vena cava syndrome Paralysis of diaphragm (Phrenic nerve) Ectopic hormones Eaton-Lambert syndrome Clubbing Horner syndrome/ Hoarseness
Mole: signs of trouble
Asymmetry Border irregular Colour irregular Diameter usually > 0.5 cm Elevation irregular
Neck sagittal x-ray: examination checklist
Anterior: look for swelling Bones: examine each bone for fractures Cartilage: look for slipped discs Dark spots: ensure not abnormally big, or could mean excess blood ABCD
Osteoarthritis: x-ray signs
Loss of joint space Osteopyhtes Subcondral sclerosis Subchondral cysts LOSS
Pituitary endocrine functions often affected by pituitary-associated tumor
Tropic hormones affected by growth tumor are: GnRH LSH FSH ACTH Prolactin function
Prognotic factors for cancer: general
Presentation (time & course) Response to treatment Old (bad prog.) Good intervention (i.e. early) Non-compliance with treatment Order of differentiation (>1 cell type)
T2 vs. T1 MRI scan
Water is White in a T2 scan. Conversely, a T1 scan shows fat as being whiter. "WW 2" (World War II)