Final answer:
A lateral neck x-ray is utilized in the case of suspected croup to identify narrowing of the airway. Pneumonia is diagnosed with a chest x-ray, fractures with x-rays of the affected area, and strokes with CT or MRI scans.
Step-by-step explanation:
You would do a lateral neck x-ray in the case of suspected croup. Croup is a respiratory condition that is often seen in children and is characterized by a barking cough, stridor, and difficulty breathing. A lateral neck x-ray can reveal a narrowing of the airway, which is a classic sign of croup, often referred to as the "steeple sign." This can help differentiate croup from other conditions with similar symptoms. Pneumonia, on the other hand, is more accurately diagnosed with a chest x-ray, which can reveal lung infiltrates; this is when pockets in the lung become filled with fluid, showing up on the x-ray as a white shadow in areas that should normally be black. Similarly, suspected fractures would be directly imaged via x-ray of the relevant body region, and suspected strokes are typically investigated using CT or MRI scans, which can provide more detailed images of the brain.