Basic concept: using radioactive (element that remits radiation as it decays) substances coupled with biologically active chemicals to visualize structures (some organs love certain substances- like thyroid and iodine) Important physics concepts to know:Isotope = element on the periodic table with different # of neutrons but same atomic # Radioisotopes: technetium-99m, iodine-131 How nuclear medicine actually works: patient is made radioactive, they emit gamma rays, a gamma camera ha...

Understanding normal anatomy is key before being able to understand what is abnormal Anatomy reviewVisceral pleura hugs the lungs (forms fissures), parietal pleura lines chest wallLobes of the lung: right lung has upper, middle, and lower lobes, left lung has upper and lower lobesFissures: right lung has horizontal/minor fissure and oblique major fissure, left lung has one huge oblique major fissure Invisible or fine white lines, if thickened may represent excess fluid from a pro...

Indications: broad (respiratory or cardiac disease, tube positioning, trauma) Characteristics of a good chest x-ray (PIER): Projection (AP, PA, lateral, lateral decubitus): heart will appear bigger on AP, but not by much, AP is better for intubated/sick patients, two views is KEYInspiration and ribs: do you see at least 8-9 posterior ribs (if too little inspiration, things can crowd and mimic abnormalities)Exposure: can you see the spine through the heart (too much penetra...

If this episode doesn't fascinate you, I don't know what will!! RadiographsIonizing radiation hits a photosensitive film to produce an imageDigital radiography: photosensitive plate processed by electronic reader to be stored digitallyPACS system: picture archiving, communications, and storage systemPlain films = X-ray = radiograph = without contrast materialAdvantages: availability, less expensiveDisadvantages: limited detail, uses radiation (caution in pregnancy)Uses: chest x-ray, abdomen...

Welcome to the RadEd podcast! In this episode: purpose, vision, goals for the podcast Disclaimer