Chest X-ray Essentials

Imaging

Video course

by Julian Dobranowski, MD FRCPC FCAR

Being able to interpret the basic findings on a chest x-ray (CXR) is one of the most important clinical skills. Whether it’s pulmonary congestion, pneumonia, pleural effusion, or cardiomyopathy, many common and life-threatening problems can be readily diagnosed with the help of a chest x-ray. In this course, you'll learn the most essential chest x-ray interpretation skills. Come in and become an expert.

5h 13m

12 Quizzes

7 CME

What’s in it for you?

Master the most important skills

Learn the skills experts say you need to master in order to become a great clinician.

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After completing this course, you will be able to

Make a correct diagnosis using our step-by-step algorithm
Confidently distinguish between normal and abnormal findings
Differentiate between pneumonia and heart failure
Recognize even a small pneumothorax
Identify tumors, pleural effusion, basic cardiac abnormalities, and aberrantly placed lines and devices on a chest x-ray.

What's inside

Free

Chapter 1

Getting into the x-ray dimension

At the end of this chapter, the student will know how a chest x-ray is created and be able to identify the key components of a chest x-ray.

5 lessons

24m

Getting into the x-ray dimension intro

The importance of grayscale

The importance of overlap RAEs and interfaces

The importance of shapes and key landmarks

How pathology changes the grayscale

Getting into the x-ray dimension quiz

Quiz

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Chapter 2

X-ray examinations and the x-ray image

At the end of this chapter, the student will know about the different types of chest x-ray examinations and understand the key elements of the interpretive process.

4 lessons

27m

X-ray examinations and the x-ray image intro

Types of x-ray examinations

The importance of quality—good film / bad film

11m

Visual perception

X-ray examinations and the x-ray image quiz

Quiz

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Chapter 3

Airways, hila, and mediastinum

At the end of this chapter, the student will know how to differentiate between normal and abnormal airways, hila, and mediastinum on a chest X-ray.

11 lessons

1h 5m

Airways, hila, and mediastinum intro

Radiological zones—and an introduction to landmarks

Trachea and major bronchi

How to confidently identify the carina

Trachea and bronchi—common pathology

The hilum—identification

10m

The hilum—pulmonary veins

The hila—common abnormalities

The mediastinum—anatomy and classification

The mediastinum—lines, stripes, and borders

The mediastinum—common pathology

10m

Airways, hila, and mediastinum quiz

Quiz

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Chapter 4

The lungs, airspaces, and interstitium

At the end of this chapter, the student will know how to differentiate between normal and abnormal lungs on the chest X-ray.

10 lessons

44m

The lungs, airspaces, and interstitium intro

Radiological anatomy of the airspaces

Radiological anatomy of peripheral pulmonary vessels and the interstitium

Pathology that causes the lungs to be too white

The many faces of pneumonia

Interstitial lung disease—linear / reticular pattern

Interstitial lung disease—nodular pattern

Lung nodules and masses—detecting lung cancer

The lungs—easily missed pathology

The hyperlucent lung

The lungs, airspaces, and interstitium quiz

Quiz

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Chapter 5

The heart and pericardium

At the end of this chapter, the student will know how to differentiate between normal and abnormal heart and mediastinum on the chest X-ray.

6 lessons

23m

The heart and pericardium intro

Radiological anatomy (rAnatomy)

Location of the heart valves

Abnormal cardiopericardial shadow

The failing heart

The pericardium—common pathology

The heart and pericardium quiz

Quiz

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Chapter 6

The pleura, diaphragms, and chest wall

At the end of this chapter, the student will know how to differentiate between normal and abnormal pleura, diaphragms, and chest walls on the chest X-ray.

9 lessons

42m

The pleura, diaphragms, and chest wall intro

The pleura—radiological anatomy (rAnatomy)

Pleural space—when the pleura is too black

Pleural space—when it is too white

What else can go wrong with the pleura?

The diaphragms—radiological anatomy (rAnatomy)

The diaphragms—common pathology

The chest wall—radiological anatomy (rAnatomy)

The chest wall—common pathology

The pleura, diaphragms, and chest wall quiz

Quiz

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Chapter 7

Localization of disease in the thorax

At the end of this chapter, the student will know how to confidently localize pathology within the thorax.

6 lessons

14m

Localization of disease in the thorax intro

Probability method

Characterization method

Grid method—establishing the grid lines

Using the grid method in the right lung

Using the grid method in the left lung

Localization of disease in the thorax quiz

Quiz

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Chapter 8

Atelectasis and collapse

At the end of this chapter, the student will know how to confidently identify and localize lobar collapse.

6 lessons

24m

Atelectasis and collapse intro

Types of atelectasis

Radiological features of lobar collapse

Collapse involving the right lung lobes

Collapse involving the left lung lobes

Entire lung vs. effusion

Atelectasis and collapse quiz

Quiz

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Chapter 9

Lines, tubes, and devices

At the end of this chapter, the student will know how to confidently identify the normal and aberrant positioning of intravascular, intracardiac, airway, and GI lines and tubes

9 lessons

27m

Lines, tubes, and devices intro

Central venous lines

Abnormal central venous catheter positioning

Airway tubes

Abnormal ETT positioning

Nasogastric tubes

Abnormal nasogastric (NG) positioning

Cardiac leads

Abnormal cardiac pacer leads positioning

Lines, tubes, and devices quiz

Quiz

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Chapter 10

The post-op chest

At the end of this chapter, the student will know how to confidently identify the normal and abnormal findings related to thoracic surgery.

6 lessons

13m

The post-op chest intro

The post-op chest quiz

Quiz

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Chapter 11

The AP chest x-ray

At the end of this chapter, the student will know what to look out for on a portable chest X-ray.

3 lessons

10m

The AP chest x-ray intro

Indications and technical considerations

The critically ill patient—special considerations

The AP chest x-ray quiz

Quiz

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Chapter 12

The interpretive process

At the end of this chapter, the student will know how to confidently interpret a chest X-ray.

3 lessons

The interpretive process intro

The step-by-step approach

The algorithm

The interpretive process quiz

Quiz

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Teachers of this course

Julian Dobranowski, MD FRCPC FCAR

Chief of Diagnostic Imaging at Niagara Health in Ontario, Canada. Professor and Chair of the Department of Radiology, McMaster University.

Teacher Profile

Medmastery

Nora Drenaline

Imaging

Claim your certificate

All members receive a certificate for completing this course. For Pro members, the certificate comes with 7 CME credits.

CME accredited

All our courses and workshops are fully CME accredited. We provide USA AMA PRA Category 1 Credits™ and European CME credits (ECMEC®s). Pro members can download their CME certificates upon successful completion of activities. Want to transfer these credits to your national system? No problem.

Learn how this works

CME at its best

Award-winning teaching method

Winner of the Comenius EduMedia Medal
For outstanding digital education—Berlin 2013
Highly commended by the British Medical Association
Awarded in the digital category of the BMA Book Awards—London 2017
Winner of the Comenius EduMedia Seal
For outstanding digital education—Berlin 2017
Internationally accredited
CME accredited in the USA and EU with mutual recognition agreements in most other countries.
Trusted institutional partner
Used by residency programs and universities around the world to train their clinicians and students.
Top-rated by our learners
Rated excellent by hundreds of users on Trustpilot, an independent reviewing platform.

What’s in it for you?

Master the most important skills

Learn any skill in under 5 hours

Save time and money

After completing this course, you will be able to

What's inside

Getting into the x-ray dimension

X-ray examinations and the x-ray image

Airways, hila, and mediastinum

The lungs, airspaces, and interstitium

The heart and pericardium

The pleura, diaphragms, and chest wall

Localization of disease in the thorax

Atelectasis and collapse

Lines, tubes, and devices

The post-op chest

The AP chest x-ray

The interpretive process

Claim your certificate

CME accredited

Winner of the Comenius EduMedia Medal

Highly commended by the British Medical Association

Winner of the Comenius EduMedia Seal

Internationally accredited

Trusted institutional partner

Top-rated by our learners