NURS 5355 FINAL EXAM, NURS 5355 MID-TERM EXAM AND NURS 5355
RADIOLOGY BASICS COMBINED 100% VERIFIED
NURS 5355 Mid-Term Exam
What are the two types of cerebral edema? - ANSWER Vasogenic: extracellular edema
due to increased permeability of brain capillaries (BBB breakdown). It is mainly in the
white matter and occurs due to malignancy or infection
Cytotoxic: intracellular edema due to an osmotic imbalance between the cell and the
extracellular fluid. It is mainly in the gray matter.
*Most importantly, cannot differentiate between the gray and white matter which is
highly indicative of cerebral edema.
What does atrophy of the brain look like on CT brain? - ANSWER Atrophy is the loss of
gray and white matter. Atrophy leads to proportionate enlargement of the ventricles and
sulci.
What is standard for CT chest? - ANSWER CT chest without contrast is standard. Only
order with contrast if you want to assess vascular disease.
What are the indications for CT chest? - ANSWER COPD, interstitial lung disease,
pulmonary nodules/masses, aneurysm dissection, pulmonary emboli, infections/cavitary
lesions, differentiating pulmonary processes.
When would a CT chest with angiography be ordered? - ANSWER To assess blood
vessels (arteries and veins) of interest
When would a CT chest with contrast be ordered? - ANSWER To assess capillaries in
soft tissue
Increased attenuation on chest CT will appear: - ANSWER White/lighter. Denser
substances will absorb more xray
,Decreased attenuation on chest CT will appear: - ANSWER Dark. Less dense
substances will absorb less xray
What is the lung window? - ANSWER The lung window is used to identify lung
parenchyma abnormalities and identify normal vs abnormal bronchial anatomy.
What is the bone window (lung) - ANSWER The bone window is used to view bony
structures (ribs)
What is the mediastinal window? - ANSWER The mediastinal window is used to visualize
the mediastinal, hilar and pleural structures.
What does hemithorax opacification look like on CT chest? - ANSWER Complete white
out of half of the lung field
What does atelectasis look like on CT chest? -ANSWER Partial or complete loss/collapse
of lung volume. It appears as white or more opaque on image.
What is subsegmental atelectasis? -ANSWER Linear densities in lung bases common in
patients not taking a deep breath (ex: post-op patient)
What is compressive atelectasis? -ANSWER Passive compression of the lung resulting
from poor inspiratory effort (ex: large pleural effusion or lesion)
Obstructive atelectasis is. tanta
Volume loss secondary to air resorption from the alveoli distal to an obstructive lesion
or mucous plug.
Atelectasis may show all of the following signs. except increased density of the affected
lung, shift of mobile structures in the thorax (i.e. trachea) and compensatory
, overinflation of the unaffected lung
What is the appearance of pleural effusion on chest CT? - ANSWER Crescent-shaped
attenuating area in the dependent portion of the hemithorax. Pleural effusions appear
white while air space looks black.
What is the appearance of pneumonia on chest CT? - ANSWER Localized area of fluffy
white. Air bronchograms may be visualized which are gas/fir filled bronchi that are
surrounded by alveoli will with fluid, pus or some other material.
What does pneumothroax look like on chest CT? - ANSWER Pneumothorax is the
collapsing of the lung due to separation of the visceral and parietal pleura. It will appear
black or dark because air is less dense compared to toher structures within the lung.
What does bullae look like on chest CT? - ANSWER Large bullae can be seen with
emphysema or COPD. It will appear as a bubble filled cavity in the lung. Lung wall will
also appear thin.
What does a lung mass look like on chest CT? - ANSWER Large, localized, irregularly
rounded shaped white shadow.
What does pulmonary nodules look like on chest CT? -ANSWER Multiple, small,
scattered irregularly rounded shaped white shadows. Nodules are less than 3 cm and
can be present as solid of sub-solid in appearance.
When should oral vs. IV contrast be used in CT abdomen & pelvis? - ANSWER IV
contrast for trauma, abdominal pain (such as appendicitis), detection of aortic
aneurysm or dissection of mass. Oral contrast should be used for nontraumatic
abdominal pain, inflammatory disease, abdominal or pelvic abscess or bowel
perforation.
What window is the abdomen primarily viewed in? - ANSWER The abdominal window.
RADIOLOGY BASICS COMBINED 100% VERIFIED
NURS 5355 Mid-Term Exam
What are the two types of cerebral edema? - ANSWER Vasogenic: extracellular edema
due to increased permeability of brain capillaries (BBB breakdown). It is mainly in the
white matter and occurs due to malignancy or infection
Cytotoxic: intracellular edema due to an osmotic imbalance between the cell and the
extracellular fluid. It is mainly in the gray matter.
*Most importantly, cannot differentiate between the gray and white matter which is
highly indicative of cerebral edema.
What does atrophy of the brain look like on CT brain? - ANSWER Atrophy is the loss of
gray and white matter. Atrophy leads to proportionate enlargement of the ventricles and
sulci.
What is standard for CT chest? - ANSWER CT chest without contrast is standard. Only
order with contrast if you want to assess vascular disease.
What are the indications for CT chest? - ANSWER COPD, interstitial lung disease,
pulmonary nodules/masses, aneurysm dissection, pulmonary emboli, infections/cavitary
lesions, differentiating pulmonary processes.
When would a CT chest with angiography be ordered? - ANSWER To assess blood
vessels (arteries and veins) of interest
When would a CT chest with contrast be ordered? - ANSWER To assess capillaries in
soft tissue
Increased attenuation on chest CT will appear: - ANSWER White/lighter. Denser
substances will absorb more xray
,Decreased attenuation on chest CT will appear: - ANSWER Dark. Less dense
substances will absorb less xray
What is the lung window? - ANSWER The lung window is used to identify lung
parenchyma abnormalities and identify normal vs abnormal bronchial anatomy.
What is the bone window (lung) - ANSWER The bone window is used to view bony
structures (ribs)
What is the mediastinal window? - ANSWER The mediastinal window is used to visualize
the mediastinal, hilar and pleural structures.
What does hemithorax opacification look like on CT chest? - ANSWER Complete white
out of half of the lung field
What does atelectasis look like on CT chest? -ANSWER Partial or complete loss/collapse
of lung volume. It appears as white or more opaque on image.
What is subsegmental atelectasis? -ANSWER Linear densities in lung bases common in
patients not taking a deep breath (ex: post-op patient)
What is compressive atelectasis? -ANSWER Passive compression of the lung resulting
from poor inspiratory effort (ex: large pleural effusion or lesion)
Obstructive atelectasis is. tanta
Volume loss secondary to air resorption from the alveoli distal to an obstructive lesion
or mucous plug.
Atelectasis may show all of the following signs. except increased density of the affected
lung, shift of mobile structures in the thorax (i.e. trachea) and compensatory
, overinflation of the unaffected lung
What is the appearance of pleural effusion on chest CT? - ANSWER Crescent-shaped
attenuating area in the dependent portion of the hemithorax. Pleural effusions appear
white while air space looks black.
What is the appearance of pneumonia on chest CT? - ANSWER Localized area of fluffy
white. Air bronchograms may be visualized which are gas/fir filled bronchi that are
surrounded by alveoli will with fluid, pus or some other material.
What does pneumothroax look like on chest CT? - ANSWER Pneumothorax is the
collapsing of the lung due to separation of the visceral and parietal pleura. It will appear
black or dark because air is less dense compared to toher structures within the lung.
What does bullae look like on chest CT? - ANSWER Large bullae can be seen with
emphysema or COPD. It will appear as a bubble filled cavity in the lung. Lung wall will
also appear thin.
What does a lung mass look like on chest CT? - ANSWER Large, localized, irregularly
rounded shaped white shadow.
What does pulmonary nodules look like on chest CT? -ANSWER Multiple, small,
scattered irregularly rounded shaped white shadows. Nodules are less than 3 cm and
can be present as solid of sub-solid in appearance.
When should oral vs. IV contrast be used in CT abdomen & pelvis? - ANSWER IV
contrast for trauma, abdominal pain (such as appendicitis), detection of aortic
aneurysm or dissection of mass. Oral contrast should be used for nontraumatic
abdominal pain, inflammatory disease, abdominal or pelvic abscess or bowel
perforation.
What window is the abdomen primarily viewed in? - ANSWER The abdominal window.
