PA and lateral chest

Patient and part

The routine chest is a PA and a left lateral, taken erect at 72 inches, or 183 cm. Erect lets the diaphragm drop and shows air-fluid levels. The 72-inch SID and the heart close to the receptor reduce magnification of the heart. For the PA, the patient faces the receptor with the chin raised, hands on the hips with palms out, and shoulders rolled forward and pressed down. Rolling the shoulders forward moves the scapulae out of the lung fields, and pressing them down moves the clavicles below the apices. For the lateral, the left side is against the receptor to reduce heart magnification, with the arms raised over the head.