Fluoroscopy of the Chest

¹ Director, Department of Radiology, Cincinnati General Hospital and Professor of Radiology, University of Cincinnati College of Medcine.

The chest teleoroentgenogram serves as a "scout" film for the detection of intrathoracic lesions. When the diagnosis is not apparent, further roentgen study of the patient is indicated, and, as a rule, this should begin with fluoroscopy.

Adequate fluoroscopic examination of a chest lesion should include the following:

1. Observation of the finer details of the lesion.

2. Rotation of the patient to determine relationships between the lesion and the adjacent normal structures.

3. Breathing maneuvers to detect vascular components and to assist in localization.

4. Ingestion of barium to ascertain origin in, or displacement of, the gastro-intestinal tract.

5. Tilting of the patient into various positions to evaluate the effects of gravity on the lesion.

Exposure of spot films during the fluoroscopic examination is essential to provide a permanent record of the findings, and additional views should be obtained after fluoroscopy to bring out further details.

Fluoroscopy is one of the most important and rewarding methods of roentgen examination of the chest.