Chest AP Supine
Position the Patient
- Supine
- Chin up
- Shoulders relaxed
- Exposure on second inspiration if possible
Words That Work
“Lie still with your shoulders relaxed and your chin lifted out of the way. When I tell you, take the biggest breath you comfortably can—like filling your lungs like two balloons—and hold it without letting any air out until I say you can breathe.”
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AP supine chest positioning
Set Up the Shot
- Center here
- Central ray
- T7 (3-4" below jugular notch)
- Include this in the field
- Collimation
- Lung apices to costophrenic angles
- Set the distance
- SID
- 72" (or 60 if limited)
- Check the technique
- Technique
- 95-110 kVp
- Follow facility protocols
Common Pitfalls
- •Exposure not on inspiration
- •Rotation (spinous processes not centered)
- •Chin not raised, superimposing the apices
Evaluate the Image
What should be visible?
- Lungs
- Heart
- Mediastinum
Does the image pass?
- ✓Clavicles more horizontal
- ✓Heart magnified
- ✓Entire lungs included
- ✓No rotation