CAMRT Radiography Practice Exam

When imaging a patient with atelectasis, what should be done to technical factors?

1. Increase technical factors

2. Decrease technical factors

3. No change to technical factors

4. Consult with a physician

The correct answer is: Increase technical factors

In the context of imaging a patient with atelectasis, increasing the technical factors is essential for achieving optimal image quality. Atelectasis, which refers to the partial or complete collapse of the lung, often leads to increased lung density due to the reduced volume of aerated lung tissue. As a result, the collapsed area has a different attenuation of x-ray photons compared to normal lung tissue. To compensate for this increased density, adjustments in the technical factors—specifically, the kilovoltage peak (kVp) and milliampere-seconds (mAs)—are necessary. Increasing the kVp enhances the penetrative ability of the x-rays, which helps ensure that sufficient x-rays reach the image receptor to adequately visualize the lung structures despite the increased density from the atelectatic areas. This adjustment is crucial to avoid underexposure, which could lead to a suboptimal image that doesn't clearly reveal the presence of atelectasis or other pulmonary conditions. Therefore, careful consideration of the technical factors when imaging patients with conditions such as atelectasis is critical for obtaining diagnostic quality images.