You are on page 1of 4

TOPIC PROPOSAL FOR FINAL

CASE STUDY PRESENTATION


Uncovering Emphysema

Radiographic Procedures and Positioning Lab I


RS 211- Section 03

Karen Finn
Quinnipiac University

A course paper presented to the School of Health Sciences


in partial fulfillment of the requirements for the
degree of Bachelor of Science in Diagnostic Imaging
Quinnipiac University
30 September 2013

Uncovering Emphysema
The pathology I wish to focus in on is COPD or chronic obstructive pulmonary disease.
COPD is the third leading cause of death in America and has affected many people lives, which
is why I think it is important to gain knowledge on the disease. I want to focus in on emphysema,
which occurs when the air sacs in your lungs are gradually destroyed, making you progressively
more short of breath. Emphysema is caused by tobacco smoke, marijuana smoke, air pollution,
and manufacturing fumes which are things that we encounter everyday (Mayo Clinic Staff).
Emphysema affects 2.0 million Americans, which shows just relevant it is our society.
I hope to gain understanding on how emphysema is formed, the symptoms, and how one
can be treated once they are diagnosed. During my presentation, I will discover the answers to
these questions I have as well as finding out what positions and projections are used to find this
disease. A chest X-ray can help confirm a diagnosis of advanced emphysema and rule out other
causes of shortness of breath, but an X-ray alone isn't enough to make an accurate diagnosis. CT
scans combine X-ray images taken from many different directions to create cross-sectional views
of internal organs (Cleveland Clinic). I will show many different images of patients diagnosed
with emphysema through the use PowerPoint. My presentation will include chest x-rays, CT
pictures, and what a normal chest would look like for comparison. During the course of my
presentation, I will point out the different technical factors that are used and highlight the
importance of each position used.
I will be using PowerPoint as my method of presentation because I feel like it is the most
organized and it will showcase the different images in a clear concise way. If I happen to see a
patient with emphysema during clinical I will definitely look into getting that x-ray so my peers

could have a tangible article of my presentation.

References
Bontrager, K., & Lampignano, J (2010). Textbook of Radiographic Positioning & Related
Anatomy (8th ed.). St. Louis, Missouri: Mosby Publishing.
Cleveland Clinic. (n.d.). Retrieved from
http://my.clevelandclinic.org/disorders/emphysema/hic-emphysema.aspx
Haas, F., & Sperber Haas S.Wiley (2000). The Chronic Bronchitis and Emphysema Handbook.
New Jersey: Wiley
Mayo Clinic Staff. (n.d.). Retrieved from
http://www.mayoclinic.com/health/emphysema/DS00296

You might also like