RADT 420 Final Exam Study Guide
Which of the following devices are necessary to obtain optimal image quality on a lateral
projection of the thoracic spine?
1. 48 inch SID
2. Close collimation
3 Sheet of leaded rubber - Answer -1, 2, and 3
Situation: Following a motor vehicle accident, a patient is taken to radiology for cervical
spine x-rays. The patient is strapped to a backboard and wearing a cervical collar. The
technologist is concerned that artifacts from the collar and a necklace the patient is
wearing will project on the spine during the horizontal beam lateral. What should the
technologist do?
1. The technologist should remove the cervical collar and necklace, being careful to
hold the head during removal and then replace the collar following exposure
2. Leave the collar and necklace on during the exposure
3. Ask the patient to remove the collar (for liability reasons) and to remain perfectly still
4. Ask the ER physician to remove the collar and to hold the head during exposure -
Answer -2. Leave the collar and necklace on during the exposure
According to Merrill's for the cervicothoracic region lateral projection (swimmer's
technique), the recommended position of the humeral head closest to the IR is move
1. Posteriorly
2. Anteriorly
3. Medially
4. Laterally - Answer -2. Anteriorly
It is acceptable to allow the patient to breath normally during a lateral projection of the
thoracic vertebrae
1. True
2. False - Answer -True
,For the AP open mouth projection of the cervical spine, the proper head / neck flexion is
achieved by placing:
1. a line drawn between the mental point and the base of the skull perpendicular to the
IR
2. a line drawn between the lower edge of the upper incisors (occlusal plane) and the
mastoid tip perpendicular to the IR
3. the occlusal plane perpendicular to the IR
4. a line drawn between the lower edge of the upper incisors (occlusal plane) and the tip
of the. chin parallel to the central ray - Answer -2. a line drawn between the lower edge
of the upper incisors (occlusal plane) and the mastoid tip perpendicular to the IR
Which of the following planes is placed perpendicular to the tabletop and centered to
the midline of the grid for a lateral lumbar spine?
1. Midsagittal plane
2. Midcoronal plane
3. Horizontal plane
4. Transverse plane - Answer -2. Midcoronal plane
What CR angulation is required for an LAO/RAO position of the cervical spine?
1. 15 degrees caudad
2. 15 degrees cephalad
3. perpendicular to IR
4. 5-10 degrees cephalad - Answer -1. 15 degrees caudad
Situation: A patient comes to the radiology department for a follow-up study of the
lumbar spine. The patient had a spinal fusion at the level of L3/4 six months prior.
Which of the following would best demonstrate the degree of movement at the fusion
site?
1. AP and lateral erect positions
2. RPO and LPO positions
3. Lateral projections in hyperextension and hyperflexion
4. Ferguson method - Answer -3. Lateral projections in hyperextension and hyperflexion
Where is the IR centered for a hyper flexion or hyperextension lateral projection of the
cervical spine?
1. Second cervical vertebra
2. Seventh cervical vertebra
, 3. Third vertebra
4. Fourth cervical vertebra - Answer -4. Fourth cervical vertebra
What is the central ray angulation for the AP projection of the dens, Fuchs method?
1. 5 degrees caudad
2. 20 cephalad
3. 0 degrees
4. 15 degrees cephalad - Answer -3. 0 degrees
What is the CR angulation for the lateral projection of the cervicothoracic region
(swimmer's technique) the the shoulder can be depressed?
1. 0 degrees
2. 5 degrees caudad
3. 15 degrees caudad
4. 10 degrees caudal - Answer -1. 0 degrees
Ideally, the cathode end of the an X-ray tube should be positioned to take advantage of
the "heel effect" of the tube. Where should the cathode be placed for an AP thoracic
spine?
1. Variable, depending on body habitus
2. Toward the head
3. Toward the feet
4. Head or foot end - Answer -3. Toward the feet
What methods can a technologist used to achieve an open disk space on the lateral
L5/S1 spot radiograph?
1. Angle the central ray to place it perpendicular to the interilliac line
2. Angle the CR to place it parallel to the interilliac line
3. Angle the CR 5-8 degrees caudal on an average patient
4. Angle the CR 5-8 degrees cephalad on an average patient
5. No tube angle, place the interilliac line perpendicular to the IR - Answer -2,3, and 5
The second cervical vertebra is called the:
1. Dens
2. Atlas
3. Axis
4. Vertebra prominens - Answer -3. Axis
Which of the following devices are necessary to obtain optimal image quality on a lateral
projection of the thoracic spine?
1. 48 inch SID
2. Close collimation
3 Sheet of leaded rubber - Answer -1, 2, and 3
Situation: Following a motor vehicle accident, a patient is taken to radiology for cervical
spine x-rays. The patient is strapped to a backboard and wearing a cervical collar. The
technologist is concerned that artifacts from the collar and a necklace the patient is
wearing will project on the spine during the horizontal beam lateral. What should the
technologist do?
1. The technologist should remove the cervical collar and necklace, being careful to
hold the head during removal and then replace the collar following exposure
2. Leave the collar and necklace on during the exposure
3. Ask the patient to remove the collar (for liability reasons) and to remain perfectly still
4. Ask the ER physician to remove the collar and to hold the head during exposure -
Answer -2. Leave the collar and necklace on during the exposure
According to Merrill's for the cervicothoracic region lateral projection (swimmer's
technique), the recommended position of the humeral head closest to the IR is move
1. Posteriorly
2. Anteriorly
3. Medially
4. Laterally - Answer -2. Anteriorly
It is acceptable to allow the patient to breath normally during a lateral projection of the
thoracic vertebrae
1. True
2. False - Answer -True
,For the AP open mouth projection of the cervical spine, the proper head / neck flexion is
achieved by placing:
1. a line drawn between the mental point and the base of the skull perpendicular to the
IR
2. a line drawn between the lower edge of the upper incisors (occlusal plane) and the
mastoid tip perpendicular to the IR
3. the occlusal plane perpendicular to the IR
4. a line drawn between the lower edge of the upper incisors (occlusal plane) and the tip
of the. chin parallel to the central ray - Answer -2. a line drawn between the lower edge
of the upper incisors (occlusal plane) and the mastoid tip perpendicular to the IR
Which of the following planes is placed perpendicular to the tabletop and centered to
the midline of the grid for a lateral lumbar spine?
1. Midsagittal plane
2. Midcoronal plane
3. Horizontal plane
4. Transverse plane - Answer -2. Midcoronal plane
What CR angulation is required for an LAO/RAO position of the cervical spine?
1. 15 degrees caudad
2. 15 degrees cephalad
3. perpendicular to IR
4. 5-10 degrees cephalad - Answer -1. 15 degrees caudad
Situation: A patient comes to the radiology department for a follow-up study of the
lumbar spine. The patient had a spinal fusion at the level of L3/4 six months prior.
Which of the following would best demonstrate the degree of movement at the fusion
site?
1. AP and lateral erect positions
2. RPO and LPO positions
3. Lateral projections in hyperextension and hyperflexion
4. Ferguson method - Answer -3. Lateral projections in hyperextension and hyperflexion
Where is the IR centered for a hyper flexion or hyperextension lateral projection of the
cervical spine?
1. Second cervical vertebra
2. Seventh cervical vertebra
, 3. Third vertebra
4. Fourth cervical vertebra - Answer -4. Fourth cervical vertebra
What is the central ray angulation for the AP projection of the dens, Fuchs method?
1. 5 degrees caudad
2. 20 cephalad
3. 0 degrees
4. 15 degrees cephalad - Answer -3. 0 degrees
What is the CR angulation for the lateral projection of the cervicothoracic region
(swimmer's technique) the the shoulder can be depressed?
1. 0 degrees
2. 5 degrees caudad
3. 15 degrees caudad
4. 10 degrees caudal - Answer -1. 0 degrees
Ideally, the cathode end of the an X-ray tube should be positioned to take advantage of
the "heel effect" of the tube. Where should the cathode be placed for an AP thoracic
spine?
1. Variable, depending on body habitus
2. Toward the head
3. Toward the feet
4. Head or foot end - Answer -3. Toward the feet
What methods can a technologist used to achieve an open disk space on the lateral
L5/S1 spot radiograph?
1. Angle the central ray to place it perpendicular to the interilliac line
2. Angle the CR to place it parallel to the interilliac line
3. Angle the CR 5-8 degrees caudal on an average patient
4. Angle the CR 5-8 degrees cephalad on an average patient
5. No tube angle, place the interilliac line perpendicular to the IR - Answer -2,3, and 5
The second cervical vertebra is called the:
1. Dens
2. Atlas
3. Axis
4. Vertebra prominens - Answer -3. Axis
