CAMRT Radiography Practice Exam

Are effective radiation doses for DXA higher than those for conventional radiography?

1. True

2. False

3. Only for certain demographics

4. It depends on the machine used

The correct answer is: False

The effective radiation doses for Dual-energy X-ray Absorptiometry (DXA) are generally lower than those for conventional radiography. DXA is primarily used for assessing bone mineral density and involves a relatively low exposure to ionizing radiation. This makes it a safer option when considering the radiation dose to patients. Conventional radiography techniques, which are used for creating images of various body parts (such as chest X-rays, limb X-rays, etc.), typically involve higher doses of radiation due to the need for a stronger X-ray beam to penetrate denser body tissues and produce adequate image quality. Comparatively, DXA machines are designed to use a lower dose of radiation while still acquiring precise measurements, particularly of bone density. Understanding this difference is vital not only for radiography professionals in considering patient safety but also for patients who may be concerned about radiation exposure.