THORACIC VERTEBRAE

AP Projection
IR
- 14x17
Pt Position
- Supine(Kay sir) or upright
Part Position
Supine
- Flex hips and knees to reduce kyphosis
- If not just support the knees to reduce strain
Upright
- Standing with weight distributed
CRD
- Perp with the IR – halfway b/n jugular notch & xiphoid process
Objectives
- Thoracic bodies
- Intervertebral disk spaces
- Transverse processes
- Costovertebral articulation and surrounding structures
Notes
- Fuchs = For more uniform density direct the cathode side to the feet
- In rad departments, a projection of thoracic spine and chest is routinely performed to trauma pt using a
thoracic filter. Gives radiologists a better look at the ribs, shoulder, diaphragm, and lungs

Lateral Projection
IR
- 14x17 LW
Pt Position
- Lateral Recumbent (preferably left lateral = heart closer)
Part Position
- Support head to be horizontal
- Posterior half of the thorax centered
- Arms at right angles to elevate ribs to clear intervertebral foramina
- Elevate lower or upper thoracic region if vertebral column is not horizontal
CRD
- Vertical – T7 x posterior half of thorax
- If vertebral column is not elevated to horizontal plane direct the CRD perpendicular to the thorax; average of
10° Cephalad for females and 15° for most males
Objectives
- Lateral image of the Thoracic vertebra
- Demo intervertebral foramina
- Lower spinous processes
- Upper vertebrae may not be demonstrated due to overlapping shoulders
Note
- Oppenheimer (orthostatic) recommended it be done in an upright
- Include swimmer’s lateral if the upper thoracic area is the area of interest
- The younger the pt, the easier it is to show the upper thoracic bodies
 ZYGOPOPHYSEAL JOINTS
AP/ PA Oblique Projection
IR
- 14x17
Pt Position
- Upright: RAO/ LAO or RPO/LPO
Part Position
- Rotate body by 20° anterior or posterior from lateral
Upright
For PAO
- Adjacent elbow flex & hand on hip
- Other hand grasp side of VGD
For APO
- Adjacent arm brought forwards to avoid
superimposition of the humerus on the upper thoracic vert
- Other hand on hip
For Recumbent
PAO
- Anterior rotation
- Lower arm behind the back and the upper hand on the
table for support
APO
- Posterior rotation
- Lower arm at right angles and upper arm at the back
CRD
- Horizontal – T7
Objectives
- Oblique projection of zygapophyseal joints and the number of joints depends on the thoracic curve
- APO: Zygapophyseal joint farthest from IR
- PAO: Zygapophyseal joint nearest to the IR
Note
- A greater degree of rotation is required to show the joints at the prox and distal ends of the region in pt with
accentuated dorsal kyphosis
- APO gives excellent demonstration of the cervicothoracic spinous process and for pt cannot be positioned in
lateral
- PAO = recommended by Oppenheimer
- APO = recommended by Fuchs