Abdominal (lateral view)
The lateral view abdominal radiograph is a useful problem-solving view that can complement frontal views of the abdomen, often utilized in the context of foreign bodies or to better visualize lines such as a shunt. It is different from the lateral decubitus view of the abdomen and looks more like a lateral lumbar spine view.
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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 is taken in full inspiration
Technical factors
- supine lateral projection
-
centring point
- the midcoronal plane at the level of the iliac crest
-
collimation
- anterior-posterior to the skin margins
- 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 required to address this)
- no blurring of the bowel gas due to respiratory motion
Practical points
- the lateral abdomen can be useful to visualize rectal gas and differentiate colonic ileus from a distal colonic obstruction however it does not offer much information about bowel gas 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
Related Radiopaedia articles
Radiographic views
- radiographic positioning and terminology
- systematic radiographic technical evaluation
- chest radiography
- pediatric chest radiography
- abdominal radiography
- pediatric abdominal radiography
-
upper limb radiography
-
shoulder girdle radiography
- scapula series
-
shoulder series
- AP view
- internal rotation view
- external rotation view
- superoinferior axial view
- inferosuperior axial view
- modified trauma axial
- supine lateral
- modified supine lateral
- Y lateral view
- AP glenoid view
- apical oblique view (Garth view)
- humerus (neck) AP view
- humerus axial (bicipital groove) view (Fisk view)
- outlet view (Neer view)
- Stryker notch view
- acromioclavicular joint series
- clavicle series
- sternoclavicular joint series
- arm and forearm radiography
- wrist and hand radiography
-
shoulder girdle radiography
-
lower limb radiography
- pelvic girdle radiography
- thigh and leg radiography
- ankle and foot radiography
- skull radiography
-
paranasal sinus and facial bone radiography
- facial bones
- Caldwell view (angled skull PA view)
- nasal bones
- zygomatic arches
- orbits
- paranasal sinuses
- temporal bones
-
dental radiography
- orthopantomography (OPG)
- mandible
- temporomandibular joints
- spine radiography