CAMRT Radiography Practice Exam

If axially ribs demonstrate increased foreshortening, what does this suggest about the patient's positioning?

1. Correctly rotated

2. Incorrectly rotated

3. Properly aligned

4. Incorrect distance

The correct answer is: Incorrectly rotated

Increased foreshortening of the axially imaged ribs suggests that the patient is positioned incorrectly, typically due to improper rotation. When the patient is not positioned correctly, the angle at which the rays from the X-ray tube hit the ribs can cause them to appear shorter than their actual length. Proper positioning techniques focus on achieving an accurate profile of the ribs; when distortion occurs due to rotation, the visual representation of the anatomical structures changes, leading to an increase in apparent foreshortening. In a correctly positioned patient, the ribs should project clearly without undue shortening, allowing accurate assessment. Therefore, foreshortening indicates that the patient's orientation has compromised the quality of the radiographic image, affirming that incorrect rotation is the likely cause of the noted increase in foreshortening.