Question

The RT is using ABC during fluoro. What change in pt exposure should the RT expect as the pt size increases?

A. Increase in exposure
B. Indeterminant change in exposure
C. Reduction in exposure
D. No change in exposure

Answer 1

An increase in patient size during fluoroscopy using ABC leads to an increased radiation exposure because ABC needs to compensate for more tissue density. Types of work like frequent fluoroscopy, extended use of interventional radiology, and repeated x-rays can result in higher radiation exposure to workers.

Step-by-step explanation:

When an RT (Radiologic Technologist) is using an Automatic Brightness Control (ABC) system during fluoroscopy (fluoro), as a patient's size increases, the RT should expect an increase in patient exposure. This is because the ABC system will automatically increase the radiation dose in order to maintain the necessary image brightness as the density and thickness of the patient’s body increases. It compensates for the additional attenuation of the x-rays by the larger amount of tissue. Hence, larger patients will require a higher dose to achieve the same image brightness, leading to an increase in radiation exposure.

B types of work that are likely to cause an increase in the radiation exposure of a worker include those involving frequent use of fluoroscopy without proper protective measures, interventional radiology procedures that require extended fluoroscopy times, and performing repeated x-ray examinations over short intervals.