Positioning
For an AP axial projection of the coccyx, the central ray is angled how many degrees and in what direction?
What is
10 degrees caudal?
When preparing a patient for a L-spine X-ray the technologist should ask the patient to remove this to prevent additional exposures.
What is
Clothing or piercings containing metal or other radiopaque materials?
This is the reason that a lead strip would be used for a lateral lumbar and sacrum/coccyx X-ray.
What is
to absorb scatter radiation from the patient?
If a patient cannot tolerate the standard positioning because of either severe pain or limited mobility the tech should do this.
What is
Modify the position while still obtaining images of diagnostic quality?
What is
Right zygapophyseal joints
When performing a lumbar spine examination on a patient with Harrington rods, why might the technologist utilize a manual technique?
What is
To prevent the AEC system from attempting to penetrate the hardware, which inherently overexposes the image and increases patient dose.
When obtaining an image of the lumbar spine, what is the advantage of placing the patient in the prone position?
What is
The PA projection places the intervertebral disk spaces at an angle closely paralleling the divergence of the beam of radiation.
If a patient cannot stand safely without assistance from the technologists during an L-spine X-ray, the technologist should consider this alternative.
What is
Recumbent positioning?
This portion of the L-spine vertebrae is represented by the neck of the "Scottie Dog"
What is
The neck of the "Scottie Dog"?
When obtaining an image of the lumbar spine, why might a PA projection be preferred?
What is
To reduce the dose to the gonads by placing the gonads farther from the beam entrance to the body.
What SID is recommended for an AP or PA lumbar spine and why?
What is
48 inches is suggested to reduce distortion and open the intervertebral disk spaces more completely
A patient requires a sacrum-coccyx radiographic examination but is experiencing severe pain when attempting to lie supine. What procedural adaptation could the technologist utilize to increase patient comfort?
What is
Perform the examination with the patient in the prone position.