Radiology Practice Test

How can you correct a radiographically elongated image?

1. Reduce the exposure time

2. Reprocess the film

3. Increase the vertical angulation

4. Change the film type

The correct answer is: Increase the vertical angulation

To correct a radiographically elongated image, increasing the vertical angulation is an effective method. Elongation typically occurs when the X-ray beam is not perpendicular to the object being imaged, often due to incorrect positioning of either the patient or the X-ray tube. By increasing the vertical angulation, the path of the X-ray beam becomes more perpendicular to the anatomical area, reducing or eliminating the elongation artifact. Other approaches, such as changing exposure time, reprocessing the film, or changing the film type, do not specifically address the issue of image elongation, which is fundamentally related to the geometry of the X-ray setup rather than exposure or film characteristics. Thus, altering the vertical angle is a targeted solution to rectify this specific distortion in the image.