Case Studies & Practical Application Flashcards

A patient in the ER needs a portable chest X-ray. The radiographer has set 72-inch SID but the patient's condition requires moving quickly. What is the minimum acceptable SID for a portable chest exam?

Answer: 48 inches

The minimum acceptable SID for a portable chest radiograph is 40 inches (approximately 100 cm), though 72 inches is preferred. Using less than 40 inches causes excessive magnification and geometric unsharpness.

During an upper GI series, the patient begins to show signs of anaphylaxis after contrast administration. The radiographer's first action should be:

Answer: Call for emergency help and activate the emergency response system

The radiographer's first action in any medical emergency is to call for help and activate the facility's emergency response system. The radiographer should not independently administer medications unless specifically trained and authorized to do so.

A radiograph of the wrist shows a small lucent crescent-shaped line on the scaphoid. The patient complains of anatomical snuffbox tenderness. What is the clinical concern?

Answer: Scaphoid fracture

Scaphoid fractures present with anatomical snuffbox tenderness and may show a subtle lucent fracture line on radiograph. Because the scaphoid has a poor blood supply, undetected fractures can lead to avascular necrosis — making accurate imaging critical.

When positioning a patient for a PA chest radiograph, the chin should be:

Answer: Elevated and extended upward

For a PA chest, the patient's chin is elevated and extended upward (neck extended) to prevent the chin from obscuring the lung apices and to ensure the entire lung field is included on the image.

A pediatric patient requires a skull radiograph but is extremely uncooperative. The parent asks to stay in the room during the exposure. The radiographer should:

Answer: Allow the parent to hold the child and provide them with a lead apron

A parent or guardian may hold an uncooperative pediatric patient during radiography. They must be provided with a lead apron and gloves to minimize their radiation exposure. This is a common and acceptable practice in pediatric radiography.

On a lateral lumbar spine radiograph, the L5-S1 disc space is not clearly visualized. What modification will best open this space?

Answer: Use a caudal CR angle of 5-8 degrees toward the feet

The L5-S1 disc space is typically angled and can be obscured on a lateral view. A 5-8 degree caudal CR angulation (toward the feet) on the lateral lumbar projection opens the L5-S1 interspace for better visualization.