Question

Which of the following guidelines apply to position a patient for a flow study of the native kidneys?

a. center the detector over the iliac fossa of interest
b. Iliac crests should be centered over the detector face
c. sternal notch should be at the top of the FOV
d. Xiphoid process should be over the upper part of the detector face

Answer 1

The patient positioning for a kidney flow study is dependent on the imaging technique; the xiphoid process is not a primary reference point for all kidney imaging. Kidneys are retroperitoneal, located at the T12 to L3 vertebrae level and surrounded by fat and fascia for protection.

Step-by-step explanation:

The positioning of a patient for a flow study of the native kidneys requires careful attention to anatomical landmarks and body positioning to obtain accurate diagnostic images. The xiphoid process should not necessarily be over the upper part of the detector face; instead, positioning may vary depending on the type of imaging being performed. For example, in a CT scan, the patient is typically in a supine position with the arms raised above the head to prevent interference with the imaging of the thoracic and abdominal area.

Diagnostic imaging of the kidneys often includes the use of the quadrants approach or the nine abdominal regions approach for clear communication. The kidneys themselves are retroperitoneal organs, which means they are located behind the peritoneum in the abdominal cavity, approximately at the vertebral level T12 to L3. They are surrounded by layers of fat for protection and held in place by the renal fascia.