Shoulder Transthoracic Lateral

• Proximal humerus in true lateral profile.
• Scapular spine in profile.
• Shoulder joint space.
• Rotator cuff soft tissues.
• Thoracic spine and ribs.
• Lung markings (blurred by breathing technique).

• Verify patient identity using two identifiers.
• Remove watches, bracelets, and radiopaque items from shoulder.
• Position patient erect, lateral to the IR.
• Affected shoulder positioned against the IR.
• Instruct patient on shallow breathing technique during exposure.

Shoulder joint, with the affected shoulder against the IR and the lateral thorax included.

Horizontal, perpendicular to the scapular plane through the thorax.

kVp

75–85

mAs

12–25

SID

40" (102 cm)

Notes

Erect technique with breathing (shallow breathing) to blur lung detail. Higher mAs for thorax penetration.

• Proximal humerus projected in true lateral profile.
• Scapular spine superimposed, viewed in profile.
• Lung detail blurred by breathing technique.
• Shoulder soft tissues visible and not obscured by ribs.
• Thorax included but lungs intentionally blurred.
• Collimation: 10 to 12 inches for thorax.

1. 1 Affected shoulder positioned away from the IR instead of against it.
2. 2 Insufficient breathing blur still shows sharp lung detail.
3. 3 Patient rotating away from true lateral closes the shoulder joint.
4. 4 Off-centered CR misses the humeral head or shoulder soft tissues.
5. 5 Excessive rotation shifts humerus anterior or posterior.

• Shoulder trauma when forward arm cannot be positioned.
• Posterior or anterior humeral head dislocation evaluation.
• Proximal humeral fracture with displacement.
• Shoulder mobility restriction assessment.