VTNE Practice: Diagnostic Imaging Exam Questions and Answers

What is a physical property of x-rays? - Travel in straight lines As the wavelength of x-ray photons shortens, the energy of the x-ray beam will - Increase The kVp setting on an x-ray machine controls the - Quality of the x-ray beam The milliampere-seconds (mAs) setting on an x-ray machine controls the - Quantity of x-rays emitted During an exposure, electrons in the x-ray tube travel from the - Cathode to the anode To produce x-rays, a great deal of energy in an x-ray tube is converted into heat. The ratio of heat generated to x-ray production is generally considered to be - 99%:1% The acceleration of the electrons and their ultimate striking energy is determined by the - Kiloyoltage (kVp) When depressing the "prep" switch on a rotating anode x-ray machine, you are effectively - Heating up the filament and spinning the rotating anode Regarding the production of x-rays in the x-ray tube, the - Cathode includes the filament and the focusing cup What transformer in an x-ray machine controls the temperature of the filament? - Step-down transformer The heel effect is going to be more noticeable with - Larger film, shorter focal-film distance, and lower kVp Full-wave rectification means that - 120 pulses of x-rays are produced per second. What is the minimum distance in feet that a safelight in the darkroom should be away from the work site? - 4 If using both blue- and green-sensitive films, what type of safelight should you use? - Red The main purpose of the x-ray developer is to - Convert the exposed silver halide crystals into black metallic silver The main purpose of the x-ray fixer is to - Clear away the unexposed, undeveloped silver halide crystals A safelight illumination test was performed in the darkroom. On processing the film, you see various gradations of blackness on your film. The area exposed for the longest period of time is - Darkest After you manually process a film, you notice that there is a green area of about 1/2 inch along one narrow edge of the film. This is due to the area not being - Developed or fixed You notice that there is a clear line at the top of the shorter edge of a radiograph that you have manually processed. This is due to the area not being - Developed You are looking at a film that is totally clear except for a bit of black that you notice along the edges. Your film has not been - Exposed to radiation You have a film in front of you that has a relatively clear edge all the way around the radiograph. This is because of - Collimation The remaining silver halide crystals from exposed x-ray film are removed in the - Fixer Which of the following would cause the image on a processed x-ray film to be fogged? a.Two films in the same cassette b.kVp too low c.Film stored in an area of high room temperature d.Focal-film distance too long - c.Film stored in an area of high room temperature What should be the maximum intensity of the bulb in a safelight in developing rooms? - 15 watts A bullet fragment on a film appears as a - White mark A crease in the film after exposure but before processing will likely appear as a - Black crescent mark Safelight fogging on a radiograph appears as a - Diffuse grayish area The cells that are most susceptible to the hazards of ionizing radiation are - The rapidly dividing cells of the intestinal lining, neoplastic cells, and gonad cells A sievert (Sv) is the - Unit of radiation dose equivalent to the absorbed dose in tissue A radiation film badge worn at the collar level - Monitors exposure of the thyroid gland and lenses of the eyes When taking radiographs, you should whenever possible use - Decreased exposure time, increased distance from radiation sources, and increased shielding There is a gloved hand visible on a radiograph. This is - A real concern, because the hand has been exposed to radiation A small filament produces an image of - Greater detail than a large filament You are preparing to take a radiograph, and you want to confirm that you have set the correct mAs of 15. Which of the following scenarios will give you 15 mAs? a.300 mA and 1/10 sec b.300 mA and 1/20 sec c.150 mA and 1/15 sec d.150 mA and 1/20 sec - b.300 mA and 1/20 sec 300 × 1/20 sec = 15 mAs. If you were going to decrease the focal-film distance from 100 cm to 50 cm, what should your new mAs be if the old mAs was 16? - 4.0 mAs Scatter radiation on a film is more noticeable if there is - Higher kVp, thicker patient, and larger field size To get more density on a film, you should do what to the kVp and mAs? - Increase either or both Sante's rule states that when setting up a technique chart, you should use what base kVp for the abdomen? - (2 × thickness [cm]) + 40 Because of the relationship between milliamp (mA) and mAs, as you increase the mA, you can - Decrease the length of the exposure, so that there is less chance of movement The crystals of high-speed screens, as compared to similar types of par screens, are - Bigger, and there is less detail The main advantage of fast-speed screens and films is that - Lower exposure factors can be used, which can allow use of a smaller focal spot. If using rare-earth screens, what spectrum of light must the film be sensitive to? - Green range You are looking at a radiograph that appears gray overall. This is best described as a - Low-contrast film with many steps but few changes between each step A radiograph in front of you appears dark. You note that the bones are gray. You are best to do what for the next radiograph - Decrease kVp Grid cutoff can be described as - Incorrect use of the grid, so that the grid absorbs more radiation than it should You have taken a radiograph using 10 mAs and 60 kVp. To double the radiographic density for a second film, you should use - 200 mA 1/10 sec, 60 kVp You want to set up an abdominal radiography technique chart. All of the following factors should be standardized except a.Whether to use a grid b.The type of film used c.Focal-film distance d.The kVp used - d. The kVp used Low mAs, high kVp techniques are recommended for abdominal radiography in dogs, because they - Produce radiographs with lower contrast A grid with a ratio of 10:1 absorbs - More scatter radiation and requires greater exposure factors than a 5:1 grid A dog is lying in left lateral recumbency for a pelvis radiograph. The right femur will be - More magnified because of decreased focal-film distance and increased object-film distance In a lateral pelvic projection, the affected limb should be - Closest to the film and pulled slightly cranially The term dorsomedial-plantarolateral oblique is in reference to the - Metatarsus The term dorsomedial-plantarolateral oblique means that the x-ray beam is directed at the - Dorsal limb aspect, and the film is against the lateral side of the limb For proper radiographic exposure, a radiograph should be taken during maximum - Expiration for the abdomen and inspiration for the thorax The best view of the elbow is - Craniocaudal The peripheral borders for an elbow radiograph are - 1/3 of the radius/ulna and 1/3 of the humerus The cranial and caudal borders for a lateral abdomen should be - The eighth rib and femoral head The best view for tympanic bullae is - Open-mouthed rostrocaudal For a Dorsoventral (DV) view of the entire skull, you should center the primary beam - Between lateral canthi on sagittal crest To ensure that your DV radiograph for the skull is parallel and perpendicular, you should try to have - An imaginary line drawn between the medial canthi parallel to the film You are required to take intraoral radiographs of the teeth of a Labrador. You are to use your regular x-ray machine, because you do not have a dental unit in the facility. The animal is anesthetized. You should use - Nonscreen film For cervical studies you should center the primary beam at - C3 to C4 The femurs in a hip dysplasia view appear foreshortened. This is likely due to not having the - Femurs parallel to the cassette Positive contrast media are considered to be - Radiopaque, which means it will be white on a processed film The triiodinated compound that is least irritating to the gastrointestinal (GI) tissues and has less toxicity is the - Meglumine diatrizoic salt The positive contrast compound that does not influence the movement of fluid through the intestinal wall is - Barium sulfate preparation The veterinarian suspects a perforation of the small bowel in a 9-year-old lethargic German shepherd and wishes to confirm her diagnosis via a special positive contrast study. What positive contrast media would you use because it is the least irritating to the peritoneum? a.Barium sulfate b.Triiodinated compound c.Carbon dioxide d.Room air - b.Triiodinated compound Angiography consists of a bolus injection of iodinated contrast media into the - Vascular system An intravenous pyelogram (IVP) is also referred to as a(n) - Excretory urogram An upper GI study is performed to evaluate - Stomach and small intestine The film-focal distance for a dental radiograph machine is _______ inches. - 16 Which of the following is a false statement regarding portable x-ray units? a.Commonly used in large animal practice b.Can be carried easily from one location to another c.Use long exposure times because of low mA capability d.Have a rotating anode tube and single focal spot - d.Have a rotating anode tube and single focal spot The exposure factor that is responsible for accelerating the electrons from the cathode to the anode is - kVp The temperature of the cathode filament is controlled by what exposure factors? - mA The nine-penny test is a quality control test for - Light field/x-ray field alignment Elongation and foreshortening of anatomic structure are associated with - Geometric distortion A tabletop (nongrid) technique is used to radiograph the - Extremity Sante's rule is used to calculate - kVp If the mA is set at 300, and the time is set at 1/60, the mAs is - 5 A special study that involves use of a negative contrast media is - Pneumocystogram The field of view of the pelvis for the Orthopedic Foundation for Animals (OFA) includes - Pelvis, femurs, and stifles The standing lateral view of the thorax with a horizontal beam is used to confirm the presence of - Fluid or free air A skyline view is used to radiograph what part of a horse's anatomy? - Carpus Which of the following is a false statement regarding positioning for a lateral view of the shoulder? a.Patient is placed in lateral recumbency. b.Shoulder of interest is closest to the cassette. c.Leg of interest is extended cranial and ventral to sternum. d.Opposite limb is pulled in a craniodorsal position. - d.Opposite limb is pulled in a craniodorsal position. The bisecting angle technique is associated with taking an x-ray of the a.Thorax b.Teeth c.Spine d.Hip - To determine whether an animal had an ununited anconeal process, the veterinarian would want you to x-ray the - Humerus The pH of the fixer chemicals is - Acidic The ideal temperature of the chemicals for manual radiograph processing is - 68° F Which of the following is a false statement regarding film storage? a.Boxes should be stored flat, in a horizontal position. b.Film should be away from chemicals and sources of ionizing radiation. c.Storage areas should be cool, 10° C to 15° C. d.Storage areas should have a relative humidity of 40% to 60%. - a.Boxes should be stored flat, in a horizontal position. Nonscreen film would most likely be used to take what type of radiograph? - Dental An x-ray film exposed to visible light and developed would appear - Black An x-ray film accidentally developed before exposure to radiation appears - Clear A new x-ray film taken directly from the box appears - Green A black "tree" pattern artifact on the film is caused by - Static electrical charge All artifacts appear as clear or white marks on film except a.Scratches in film emulsion b.Hair in the cassette c.Contrast media on the table d.Crimping or folding of the film - d. Crimping or folding of the film Heavy lines on a processed radiograph are most likely due to - Roller marks from an automatic processor All are true statements regarding fast film, except a.Has large silver halide crystals b.Requires more exposure by x-rays c.Produces a grainier image that lacks definition d.Has less latitude in exposure factors - b.Requires more exposure by x-rays If a radiograph is too light, and the image appears underpenetrated, you should - Increase kVp 10% to 15% If a radiograph is too dark, but the image shows adequate penetration, you should - Decrease mAs 30% to 50% If a film is too light, but the image shows adequate penetration, you should - Decrease kVp 10% to 15% If a film is too dark and the image appears overpenetrated, you should - Decrease kVp 10% to 15% The exposure factors from a standard technique chart should be modified by decreasing the mAs by 50% for which of the following patients? a.Heavily muscled b.Obese c.Plaster cast on leg d.Neonatal dog - d.Neonatal dog The technique chart should be modified by increasing the mAs by 50% for which of the following patients? a.A kitten b.Excessively thin animals c.Animals with ascites d.Animals with pneumothorax - c.Animals with ascites Mitchell markers are primarily used in standing radiography of the equine head to assist in identifying - Fluid levels in paranasal sinuses The unit of absorbed ionizing radiation dose is - Gray (Gy) The workplace program that has been developed to ensure radiation exposures are kept as low as possible is - ALARA If cracks are present in protective apparel, they appear _______ when radiographed. - Black The minimum age, in years, for a person to be involved in radiographic procedures is - 18 One sievert (Sv) equals - 100 rem Which of the following is a false statement regarding scatter radiation? a.The main source of radiation exposure to the veterinary technician comes from the area of patient that is exposed during radiography. b.Scatter radiation is of concern, because it decreases film quality and increases radiation exposure to the person taking the radiograph. c.Scatter radiation is composed of high-energy x-ray photons that have undergone a change in direction after interacting with structures in the patient's body. d.The best way to decrease radiation exposure is to use beam-limiting devices and pay close attention to technical factors to avoid retakes. - c.Scatter radiation is composed of high-energy x-ray photons that have undergone a change in direction after interacting with structures in the patient's body. A noninvasive imaging procedure that uses a small amount of radioactive material administered intravenously is - Scintigraphy The imaging technique that involves a piezoelectric crystal within a transducer is - Ultrasound Images are displayed in real time in which of the following? a.Ultrasound and fluoroscopy b.CT and MRI c.Scintigraphy d.PET scan - Ultrasound and fluoroscopy The ultrasound term that refers to few echoes detected, and the area is a low-level gray compared with the surrounding tissue, is - Hypoechoic The imaging technique that uses x-rays and computers to produce images that show anatomy in a cross section is - CT Which of the following involves no ionizing radiation to create the image? a.Scintigraphy b.CT c.MRI d.Fluoroscopy - c. MRI Assume that you are going to produce a technique chart by holding mAs constant while varying kVp. Use Sante's rule to calculate the trial kVp that you would use for a canine thorax using the following parameters: thorax measurement = 16 cm, assume no grid is to be used, and focal-film distance = 40 in. - 72 kVp The maximum permissible dose (MPD) for whole-body radiation per year in sieverts is - 0.05 Which of the following is the best definition for ionizing radiation dose equivalent? a.Quantity of energy from ionizing radiation per unit mass of tissue b.The quantity of radiation per unit mass, taking into consideration the biologic effect on specific tissue types c.The number of grays of exposure per year d.The number of rads of exposure per year - b.The quantity of radiation per unit mass, taking into consideration the biologic effect on specific tissue types In which of the following scenarios does the activity not increase the likelihood of personnel exposure to scatter radiation? a.Inability to collimate b.Personnel are leaning across the x-ray table to reach a patient c.Use of a fast screen/fast film combination d.Increase in kVp setting - c.Use of a fast screen/fast film combination The primary difference between an OFA and a PennHIP evaluation is that - PennHIP focuses on the degree of joint laxity using three views. To prevent geometric distortion when performing radiographs, which of the following guidelines should be followed? a.The primary x-ray beam should be perpendicular to the object of interest, and the patient should be positioned parallel to the film. b.The primary x-ray beam should be parallel to the object of interest, and the patient should be positioned parallel to the film. c.There is no magnification or distortion that can occur if the patient is located close to the film. d.Geometric distortion can occur in very large-breed animals only. - a.The primary x-ray beam should be perpendicular to the object of interest, and the patient should be positioned parallel to the film. Tabletop exposures can usually be made under which of the following circumstances? a.When the area of interest (or the entire patient) is less than 10 cm thick b.When the patient is very cooperative and does not move, regardless of thickness c.When a fast screen and film combination is used d.Only when a grid is not available - a.When the area of interest (or the entire patient) is less than 10 cm thick Lateral thoracic radiographs are taken - At peak inspiration Which views must be taken to properly perform a thoracic metastasis check on a patient with mammary adenocarcinoma? - Right and left lateral views and a VD or a DV view Which lung field is best visualized in an animal that is in left lateral recumbency? - Right lung field A veterinarian is performing a radiographic survey of a cat's skull to evaluate the trabecular bone in the nasal cavity for a nasal tumor (producing asymmetry). Knowing that ultra fine detail is needed, which of the following equipment would best allow for a diagnostic study? a.Fast screen and film combination b.Slow screen and film combination c.Fast screen and slow film combination d.Slow screen and fast film combination - b. Slow screen and film combination When discerning the possible source of artifacts on film, a veterinary technician might attribute a yellowing of radiographic films to - Incomplete washing of processing chemicals A technician notes that there are equally spaced, heavy lines on a radiographic film. What is most likely to have caused this artifact? - Grid out of focal range Which of the following would not result in poor detail on a radiographic film? a.Patient motion b.Fast film and screen combination c.Double exposure d.Light leak in x-ray room - d.Light leak in x-ray room To take advantage of the "heel effect," a veterinary technician would do which of the following when positioning an animal for a study? a.Place the thickest part of the patient toward the cathode side of the x-ray tube. b.Place the thickest part of the patient toward the anode side of the x-ray tube. c.Place the thickest part of the patient parallel to the primary beam. d.Place the thickest part of the patient centered on the primary beam. - a.Place the thickest part of the patient toward the cathode side of the x-ray tube.