Abdominal (lateral view)

Changed by Andrew Murphy, 2 Jul 2017

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The lateral view abdominal radiograph is a useful problem-solving view that can complement frontal views of the abdomen, often utilised in the context of forging dies or to better visualise lines such as a shunt. It is different than the lateral decubitus view of the abdomen and looks more like a lateral lumbar spine view.

Patient position

the patient may be either erect or recumbent, with her or his side against the detector
legs may be flexed for balance
arms raised
lower bound of the field of view should contain the inferior pubic ramus

the X-ray ~~beam features~~is taken in full inspiration

Technical factors

supine lateral projection
centring point
- the ~~beam is directed laterally, at~~midsagittal place (equidistant from each ASIS) at the level of the iliac ~~crests~~crest
~~source-to-image distance: 40" (100 cm)~~collimation
- anterior-posterior to the skin margins
- ~~~75 kVp at 40-100 mAs (or AEC)~~superior to the diaphragm
- inferior to the level inferior pubic rami
orientation
- portrait
detector size
- 35 cm x 43 cm
exposure
- 70-80 kVp
- 30-120 mAs; AEC should be used if available
SID
- 100 cm
grid
- yes

Image technical evaluation

the projection can be confirmed lateral via the lateral appearance of the vertebral bodies
skin border is not burnt out (a filter may be ~~used~~required to address this)
no blurring of the bowel gas due to respiratory motion

AdvantagesPractical points

~~may~~the lateral abdomen can be useful to visualise rectal gas and differentiate colonic ileus ~~from~~ from a distal colonic obstruction

Disadvantages

however it does not offer as much information about bowel gas ~~as a~~from the frontal view

this projection can be done erect or supine, often used to localise foreign bodies or as part of a shunt series when there is a high degree of winding of the line

-<p>The <strong>lateral view abdominal radiograph</strong> is a useful problem-solving view that can complement frontal views of the abdomen. It is different than the <a href="/articles/abdomen-lateral-decubitus-view-1">lateral decubitus view</a> of the abdomen and looks more like a lateral lumbar spine view.</p><h4>Patient position</h4><ul>
+<p>The <strong>lateral view abdominal radiograph</strong> is a useful problem-solving view that can complement frontal views of the abdomen, often utilised in the context of forging dies or to better visualise lines such as a shunt. It is different than the <a href="/articles/abdomen-lateral-decubitus-view-1">lateral decubitus view</a> of the abdomen and looks more like a lateral lumbar spine view.</p><h4>Patient position</h4><ul>
~~-</ul><h4>X-ray beam features</h4><ul>~~
~~-<li>the beam is directed laterally, at the level of the iliac crests</li>~~
~~-<li>source-to-image distance: 40" (100 cm)</li>~~
~~-<li>~75 kVp at 40-100 mAs (or AEC)</li>~~
~~-<li>grid may be used</li>~~
-</ul><h4>Advantages</h4><ul><li>may be useful to visualise rectal gas and differentiate colonic <a href="/articles/adynamic-ileus">ileus</a> from a distal <a href="/articles/colonic-obstruction">colonic obstruction</a>
~~-</li></ul><h4>Disadvantages</h4><ul><li>does not offer as much information about bowel gas as a frontal view</li></ul>~~
+<li>the X-ray is taken in full inspiration</li>
+</ul><h4>Technical factors </h4><ul>
+<li><strong>supine lateral projection</strong></li>
+<li>
+<strong> centring point</strong><ul><li>the midsagittal place (equidistant from each ASIS) at the level of the iliac crest</li></ul>
+</li>
+<li>
+<strong>collimation</strong><ul>
+<li>anterior-posterior to the skin margins </li>
+<li>superior to the diaphragm</li>
+<li>inferior to the level inferior pubic rami</li>
+</ul>
+</li>
+<li>
+<strong>orientation</strong><ul><li>portrait</li></ul>
+</li>
+<li>
+<strong>detector size</strong><ul><li>35 cm x 43 cm</li></ul>
+</li>
+<li>
+<strong>exposure</strong><ul>
+<li>70-80 kVp</li>
+<li>30-120 mAs; AEC should be used if available</li>
+</ul>
+</li>
+<li>
+<strong>SID</strong><ul><li>100 cm</li></ul>
+</li>
+<li>
+<strong>grid</strong><ul><li>yes</li></ul>
+</li>
+</ul><h4>Image technical evaluation </h4><ul>
+<li>the projection can be confirmed lateral via the lateral appearance of the vertebral bodies</li>
+<li>skin border is not burnt out (a filter may be required to address this) </li>
+<li>no blurring of the bowel gas due to respiratory motion </li>
+</ul><h4>Practical points</h4><ul>
+<li>the lateral abdomen can be useful to visualise rectal gas and differentiate colonic <a href="/articles/adynamic-ileus">ileus</a> from a distal <a href="/articles/colonic-obstruction">colonic obstruction</a> however it does not offer much information about bowel gas from the frontal view </li>
+<li>this projection can be done erect or supine, often used to localise foreign bodies or as part of a shunt series when there is a high degree of winding of the line</li>
+</ul>