RESPIRATORY CARE PROCEDURES
EXAM WITH CORRECT ANSWERS
AND PICTURES
What is radiolucent?
Radiolucent describes the dark or black appearance of tissue on a
radiographic film, indicating that the tissue allows x-rays to pass through,
which makes it appear less dense on the image. For example, a
pneumothorax also appears black on the film.
What is radiopaque?
Radiopaque refers to the white appearance of dense matter on a
radiographic film, indicating that the tissue or substance is not easily
penetrated by x-rays, making it appear denser and brighter on the image.
For example, dense bone tissue in the ribs appears white on the film, and
fat, being denser than air or other tissues, also appears whiter.
Additionally, fluid in the pleural space and alveoli filled with pus or blood
also appear white, and these white areas on chest film are referred to as
pulmonary opacities.
What are infiltrates?
The term used to describe patchy increased densities.
What are air bronchograms?
A term used to describe seeing parts of the tracheobronchial tree, which
happens when the tissue surrounding the "tube" fills with fluid while the
,tube itself still contains air, and it's also called "air-space disease" when
infiltrates fill the alveoli.
What is plate atelectasis?
A specific type of sub segmental atelectasis that has a classic radiographic
appearance.
What is a nodule?
A nodule is a small, solid, and round growth or lump that can form in
various tissues or organs of the body, often seen on medical imaging such
as X-rays or CT scans.
What is a deep sulcus sign?
-The accumulation of air anteriorly that outlines the heart border below
the dome of the diaphragm that can be found in a supine patient.
What is the honeycomb appearance?
A radiological finding indicating irreversible scarring often linked to end-
stage lung disease, observed in conditions like interstitial lung disease
and the formation of well-defined cystic spaces in the lung periphery.
What is a pneumothorax?
-Air in the pleural space.
What are the causes of a pneumothorax?
-Trauma (e.g., gunshot wounds, motor vehicle accidents),
-Ruptured bleb (common in emphysema),
-Iatrogenic (resulting from medical procedures or treatments, such as the
insertion of lines like PAP catheters, CVP catheters, biopsies, or positive
pressure breathing methods like IPPB, mechanical ventilation, and high
levels of PEEP),
, Idiopathic (no specific known cause).
What is a pleural effusion?
Fluid in the pleural space.
Where can a pleural effusion be found?
In blunt costophrenic angles.
What are the causes of a pleural effusion?
-Congestive Heart Failure (CHF),
-Hepatic Cirrhosis,
-Pulmonary Emboli,
-Malignant Conditions (most common cause of exudative effusions),
-Pneumonia,
-Tuberculosis (TB).
What are the different types of pleural effusions?
-Empyema: Pus in the pleural space that requires thoracentesis.
-Chylothorax: A milky fluid with lymphatic fat that accumulates in the
pleural space due to gastrointestinal issues.
-Hemothorax: Blood in the pleural cavity caused by trauma.
What are air fluid levels?
EXAM WITH CORRECT ANSWERS
AND PICTURES
What is radiolucent?
Radiolucent describes the dark or black appearance of tissue on a
radiographic film, indicating that the tissue allows x-rays to pass through,
which makes it appear less dense on the image. For example, a
pneumothorax also appears black on the film.
What is radiopaque?
Radiopaque refers to the white appearance of dense matter on a
radiographic film, indicating that the tissue or substance is not easily
penetrated by x-rays, making it appear denser and brighter on the image.
For example, dense bone tissue in the ribs appears white on the film, and
fat, being denser than air or other tissues, also appears whiter.
Additionally, fluid in the pleural space and alveoli filled with pus or blood
also appear white, and these white areas on chest film are referred to as
pulmonary opacities.
What are infiltrates?
The term used to describe patchy increased densities.
What are air bronchograms?
A term used to describe seeing parts of the tracheobronchial tree, which
happens when the tissue surrounding the "tube" fills with fluid while the
,tube itself still contains air, and it's also called "air-space disease" when
infiltrates fill the alveoli.
What is plate atelectasis?
A specific type of sub segmental atelectasis that has a classic radiographic
appearance.
What is a nodule?
A nodule is a small, solid, and round growth or lump that can form in
various tissues or organs of the body, often seen on medical imaging such
as X-rays or CT scans.
What is a deep sulcus sign?
-The accumulation of air anteriorly that outlines the heart border below
the dome of the diaphragm that can be found in a supine patient.
What is the honeycomb appearance?
A radiological finding indicating irreversible scarring often linked to end-
stage lung disease, observed in conditions like interstitial lung disease
and the formation of well-defined cystic spaces in the lung periphery.
What is a pneumothorax?
-Air in the pleural space.
What are the causes of a pneumothorax?
-Trauma (e.g., gunshot wounds, motor vehicle accidents),
-Ruptured bleb (common in emphysema),
-Iatrogenic (resulting from medical procedures or treatments, such as the
insertion of lines like PAP catheters, CVP catheters, biopsies, or positive
pressure breathing methods like IPPB, mechanical ventilation, and high
levels of PEEP),
, Idiopathic (no specific known cause).
What is a pleural effusion?
Fluid in the pleural space.
Where can a pleural effusion be found?
In blunt costophrenic angles.
What are the causes of a pleural effusion?
-Congestive Heart Failure (CHF),
-Hepatic Cirrhosis,
-Pulmonary Emboli,
-Malignant Conditions (most common cause of exudative effusions),
-Pneumonia,
-Tuberculosis (TB).
What are the different types of pleural effusions?
-Empyema: Pus in the pleural space that requires thoracentesis.
-Chylothorax: A milky fluid with lymphatic fat that accumulates in the
pleural space due to gastrointestinal issues.
-Hemothorax: Blood in the pleural cavity caused by trauma.
What are air fluid levels?
