Pelvis X-ray positioning
How to position for each of the 5 pelvis 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/Pelvis
The routine pelvis views are Pelvis and hips AP (infant), Pelvis AP and Urinary bladder and inner pelvis AP. Pelvis lateral and Pelvis oblique come 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
- Pelvis and hips AP (infant)
- Pelvis AP
- Urinary bladder and inner pelvis AP
- Pelvis lateral
- Pelvis oblique
Quick reference
Where to centre, how far and which receptor, for every pelvis view at a glance. Open a guide for the full set-up.
| Projection | Centre on | SID | Receptor | Breathing |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Pelvis and hips AP (infant) | just above the symphysis | 100 cm | 18×24 landscape | No breathing instruction needed |
| Pelvis AP | 4 cm above the symphysis, midline | 100 cm | 35×43 landscape, grid | Suspend respiration |
| Urinary bladder and inner pelvis AP | 4 cm above the symphysis | 100 cm | 24×30 landscape, grid | Suspend respiration |
| Pelvis lateral | the greater trochanter | 100 cm | 35×43 portrait, grid | Suspend respiration |
| Pelvis oblique | the hip of interest | 100 cm | 35×43 landscape, grid | Suspend respiration |
Mistakes that lead to repeats
- Rotation on the pelvis and hips AP (infant): hold both legs straight and level.
- Femoral necks foreshortened on the pelvis AP: turn the feet in 15° unless injured.
- Bladder overlaps the symphysis on the urinary bladder and inner pelvis AP: angle 20° caudad.
- Wrong column shown on the pelvis oblique: check which side is raised.
Common questions
- Which pelvis views are routine?
- Usually Pelvis and hips AP (infant), Pelvis AP and Urinary bladder and inner pelvis AP.
- What distance (SID) do pelvis X-rays use?
- 100 cm for every pelvis view here.
- Do pelvis X-rays need a grid?
- Most do. The exceptions, taken without a grid, are Pelvis and hips AP (infant).
Try it in ScanFlo: the ScanFlo XR X-ray Room, coming soon, lets you set up every pelvis projection in a 3D room and score your positioning. See ScanFlo XR →