Radiology Tech Flashcards

An intravenous injection of contrast is necessary for a patient who is having a radiologic examination. What is the creatinine normal range?

Answer: 0.6-1.5 mg/100 ml

Creatinine levels are crucial for assessing kidney function, especially before administering iodinated contrast media in radiology. A normal range of 0.6-1.5 mg/100 ml indicates healthy kidney function, which is essential because the kidneys are responsible for filtering and excreting the contrast from the body. Elevated creatinine levels suggest impaired kidney function, increasing the risk of contrast-induced nephropathy.

A patient is getting a head CAT scan. The patient experiences nausea and respiratory difficulties after receiving a contrast injection. Which kind of shock is the patient going through?

Answer: Anaphylactic

Nausea and respiratory difficulties, such as shortness of breath, after a contrast injection are classic signs of a severe allergic reaction. Anaphylactic shock is a life-threatening systemic hypersensitivity reaction characterized by a rapid onset of symptoms affecting multiple body systems, including respiratory distress and cardiovascular collapse, triggered by an allergen like contrast media.

What purpose does the housing around an x-ray tube serve?

Answer: Minimizes radiation leakage

The protective housing around an x-ray tube is specifically designed to absorb unwanted x-rays that are not part of the primary beam. This significantly reduces leakage radiation, which is radiation that escapes in directions other than the useful beam. By minimizing leakage, the housing protects both the patient and the radiographer from unnecessary radiation exposure, ensuring radiation safety.

What is the name of the radiation-induced reddening of irritated skin?

Answer: Erythema

Erythema is the medical term for reddening of the skin, which can be caused by various factors, including inflammation or irritation. In the context of radiation exposure, radiation-induced erythema is a common acute skin reaction that occurs when skin cells are damaged by ionizing radiation, leading to capillary dilation and redness. It is an early indicator of radiation exposure to the skin.

When a patient lays flat on their back and has their head lower than their feet, what position is that?

Answer: Trendelenburg

The Trendelenburg position involves the patient lying supine (on their back) with their head lower than their feet, typically with the entire bed tilted. This position is often used in medical settings to promote venous return to the heart, improve blood flow to the brain, or for certain surgical procedures. It contrasts with other positions like Fowler's, where the head is elevated.

REM is a unit used to measure radiation. REM stands for what?

Answer: Radiation Equivalent Man

REM stands for 'Radiation Equivalent Man' (or Roentgen Equivalent Man). It is an older unit of equivalent dose, used to quantify the biological effect of radiation on human tissue. The REM accounts for the different biological effectiveness of various types of radiation, providing a measure of the potential harm to humans, with the SI unit equivalent being the Sievert (Sv).

How may the density be changed best on an x-ray image?

Answer: mAs

mAs (milliampere-seconds) is the primary controlling factor for radiographic density (or brightness in digital imaging). It directly determines the quantity of x-ray photons produced; increasing mAs increases the number of photons reaching the image receptor, resulting in a darker (more dense) image. Kvp primarily controls contrast and penetration, while filtration and SID have secondary effects on density.