Soft tissue neck X-ray positioning
How to position for both soft tissue neck X-ray views: where the patient goes, where to centre, which receptor and distance to use, and what a good image looks like.
By the ScanFlo Editorial Team · Updated
In this section · X-ray positioning
- X-ray positioning guides
- Skull positioning
- Face & sinuses positioning
- Soft tissue neck positioning
- C-spine positioning
- Chest positioning
- Shoulder positioning
- Humerus positioning
- Elbow positioning
- Forearm positioning
- Wrist positioning
- Hand positioning
- T-spine positioning
- Abdomen positioning
- L-spine positioning
- Sacrum & SI joints positioning
- Pelvis positioning
- Hip positioning
- Femur positioning
- Knee positioning
- Tibia & fibula positioning
- Ankle positioning
- Foot positioning
X-ray positioning/Soft tissue neck
The routine soft tissue neck views are Neck soft tissue lateral. Neck soft tissue AP comes in when you need to answer a particular question, or when the patient can't manage a routine view. Each guide walks you through the set-up step by step, with a short video, exposure settings for different patient sizes and what a good image should show.
A radiographer is still checking these guides.
Routine views
Extra views
All views in this region
- Neck soft tissue lateral
- Neck soft tissue AP
Quick reference
Where to centre, how far and which receptor, for every soft tissue neck view at a glance. Open a guide for the full set-up.
| Projection | Centre on | SID | Receptor | Breathing |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Neck soft tissue lateral | the thyroid cartilage | 150 cm | 24×30 portrait, grid | Breathe in and hold |
| Neck soft tissue AP | the thyroid cartilage | 110 cm | 24×30 portrait, grid | Breathe in and hold |
Mistakes that lead to repeats
- Shoulders over the lower neck on the neck soft tissue lateral: pull the shoulders down.
- Airway burnt out on the neck soft tissue AP: use a soft-tissue technique.
Common questions
- Which soft tissue neck views are routine?
- Usually Neck soft tissue lateral.
- What distance (SID) do soft tissue neck X-rays use?
- Anywhere from 110 to 150 cm, depending on the view. Each guide gives the exact figure.
- Do soft tissue neck X-rays need a grid?
- Yes, every view here is taken with a grid.
Try it in ScanFlo: the ScanFlo XR X-ray Room, coming soon, lets you set up every soft tissue neck projection in a 3D room and score your positioning. See ScanFlo XR →