ARRT Registry Practice Test #1
A 25-gauge, 0.5-inch needle is BEST used for a(n) ____ injection.
a. intradermal
b. intramuscular
c. subcutaneous
d. intravenous - ANS-c. subcutaneous
Subcutaneous is the best choice for a 25-gauge needle, because it has a small diameter and
short length which will not penetrate deeply into the epidermis. The gauge and length of
needles for intradermal, intramuscular, and intravenous injections are all different.
\A 4-year old patient enters the radiology suite for chest radiography and appears anxious.
The child has never had the examination before. She is not speaking or answering
questions. The technologist could best attempt to communicate with the child by:
a. taking as much time as they need to explain the examination
b. briefly exploring the radiology department with the child
c. offering the child candy for participating I the examination
d. sitting eye level with the child and walking them through the examination - ANS-d. sitting
eye level with the child and walking them through the examination
A patient between 3 and 5 years old might not be able to reason with the technologist about
the purpose of the examination. Walking through the steps with the child can be the best
method to alleviate their stress. A tour of the department might be unsafe, and taking an
unlimited amount of time to explain a procedure might not be possible. The child might not
be able to eat candy, so offering it may not be a good idea.
\A backup timer for the automatic exposure control (AEC) serves to:
a. terminate the exposure in the event of equipment or operator error
b. limit the thermal loading of the anode
c. increase inherent filtration
d. modulate tube current to reduce patient exposure - ANS-a. terminate the exposure in the
event of equipment or operator error
\A contrast medium that lets x-ray photons easily pass through it is considered:
a. radiolucent
b. radiopaque
c. opaque
d. transparent - ANS-a. radiolucent
\A patient is injected with a large volume of fluid intravenously; this is called a(n):
a. intravenous push
b. bolus
c. drip infusion
d. drop flow - ANS-b. bolus
A bolus is a large volume of injected fluid. An intravenous push is the action of rapid injection
of fluid. Drip infusion is the infusion of liquid into the vein, but can include a large or small
amount of liquid. Drop flow is not a medical term used in venipuncture procedures.
,\A terminally ill patient has asked the doctor about possible volunteer opportunities in the
hospital. She says that if she can volunteer in the hospital, she might be able to extend her
life a bit longer from doing good deeds. This represents the ____ stage of grief for the
patient.
a. bargaining
b. anger
c. denial
d. depression - ANS-a. bargaining
The bargaining stage focuses on the hope the patient has to extend her life. Anger can occur
once the patient realizes her life is being interrupted by the illness. Denial can include
rejecting information and preferring to be left alone. Depression affects the patient's mood or
behavior regarding the illness, and can cause despair and mourning.
\A wedge filter is a type of ______ filter.
a. inherent
b. compensating
c. added
d. trough - ANS-b. compensating
A wedge filter is a type of compensating filter. It is used to provide the receptor with uniform
exposure when imaging body structures with varying thicknesses (i.e., a foot). The thick
edge of the filter is placed over the thin structural part and the thin edge is placed over the
thick structural part.
\According to NCRP Report No. 116, annual occupational exposure to the lens of the eye
should not exceed:
a. 25 mSv
b. 50 mSv
c. 100 mSv
d. 150 mSv - ANS-d. 150 mSv
NCRP Report No. 116 states the annual occupational exposure limit for the lens of the eye is
150 mSv, or 15 rem.
\According to the American College of Radiology, which of the following are indications for
obtaining a skeletal survey?
1. suspected non accidental trauma
2. skeletal dysplasias, syndromes, and metabolic disorders
3. neoplasms - ANS-1, 2, and 3
\All of the following affect the spatial resolution of an image EXCEPT FOR:
a. kVp
b. part size
c. tube angle
d. SID - ANS-a. kVP
Kilovolts peak has an effect on receptor exposure and contrast only. Tube angle affects
spatial resolution because of unequal magnification of the part. Part size affects spatial
resolution because of magnification (larger parts increase the OID, which results in
decreased spatial resolution). SID affects spatial resolution because of beam divergence.
, \All of the following are within acceptable kVp accuracy variance for an exposure using 80
kVp EXECPT FOR ____ kVp.
a. 86
b. 84
c. 82
d. 76 - ANS-a. 86
The kVp variance is within +5%. At 80 kVp, the variance is 4 kVp (80 x 0.05 = 4). Therefore,
76-84 kVp is within acceptable limits.
\All of the following EXCEPT ___ will result in an increase in AEC response time.
a. decreasing the kVp
b. Increasing the focal spot size
c. increasing the part thickness
d. increasing the SID - ANS-b. increasing the focal spot size
Increasing the focal spot size does not change the AEC response time It affects the spatial
resolution. Decreasing the kVp increases the exposure time because more photons are
absorbed, resulting in fewer reaching the cell(s). The same is true for increasing part
thickness. Increasing the SID results in a longer exposure time because of beam divergence
and the decrease in the number of photons reaching the cell(s).
\An acceptable PA chest exam is taken using 300 mA, 0.008 seconds, and 110 kVp. If this
examination is repeated using an AEC that has a minimum response time of 10 ms, which of
the following exposure factors would be appropriate?
a. 400 mA, 0.006 seconds, 110 kVp
b. 200 mA, 0.012 seconds, 110 kVp
c. 600 mA, 0.004 seconds, 110 kVp
d. all of the above would be appropriate - ANS-b. 200 mA, 0.006 seconds, 110 kVp
The minimum response time (MRT) is the amount of time it takes for the AEC to detect and
respond to an exposure. In this example, the MRT is 10 ms (0.01 seconds). This means that
the AEC will not terminate an exposure in less than 0.01 seconds. Therefore, the only
exposure setting that does not violate the MRT of this AEC is 200 mA. If 200 mA is selected,
the exposure time will run for 0.012 seconds and the receptor will be properly exposed. If the
exposure time for an exam is less than the MRT, the receptor exposure increases because
the unit will not turn off until the MRT is reached.
\An image that has many shades of gray with few differences among them is defined as
exhibiting:
a. high spatial resolution
b. low contrast
c. high dynamic range
d. low bit depth - ANS-b. low contrast
Low-contrast images consist of many gray shades with very little differences among the
shades. These images are also referred to as exhibiting long-scale contrast. Spatial
resolution deals with image sharpness and dynamic range is the imaging detector's range of
response to exposures. Bit depth has to do with the number of gray shades that a system
can yield. A low bit depth system would actually result in an image that displays few shades
of gray. In other words, the image would appear more black and white.
A 25-gauge, 0.5-inch needle is BEST used for a(n) ____ injection.
a. intradermal
b. intramuscular
c. subcutaneous
d. intravenous - ANS-c. subcutaneous
Subcutaneous is the best choice for a 25-gauge needle, because it has a small diameter and
short length which will not penetrate deeply into the epidermis. The gauge and length of
needles for intradermal, intramuscular, and intravenous injections are all different.
\A 4-year old patient enters the radiology suite for chest radiography and appears anxious.
The child has never had the examination before. She is not speaking or answering
questions. The technologist could best attempt to communicate with the child by:
a. taking as much time as they need to explain the examination
b. briefly exploring the radiology department with the child
c. offering the child candy for participating I the examination
d. sitting eye level with the child and walking them through the examination - ANS-d. sitting
eye level with the child and walking them through the examination
A patient between 3 and 5 years old might not be able to reason with the technologist about
the purpose of the examination. Walking through the steps with the child can be the best
method to alleviate their stress. A tour of the department might be unsafe, and taking an
unlimited amount of time to explain a procedure might not be possible. The child might not
be able to eat candy, so offering it may not be a good idea.
\A backup timer for the automatic exposure control (AEC) serves to:
a. terminate the exposure in the event of equipment or operator error
b. limit the thermal loading of the anode
c. increase inherent filtration
d. modulate tube current to reduce patient exposure - ANS-a. terminate the exposure in the
event of equipment or operator error
\A contrast medium that lets x-ray photons easily pass through it is considered:
a. radiolucent
b. radiopaque
c. opaque
d. transparent - ANS-a. radiolucent
\A patient is injected with a large volume of fluid intravenously; this is called a(n):
a. intravenous push
b. bolus
c. drip infusion
d. drop flow - ANS-b. bolus
A bolus is a large volume of injected fluid. An intravenous push is the action of rapid injection
of fluid. Drip infusion is the infusion of liquid into the vein, but can include a large or small
amount of liquid. Drop flow is not a medical term used in venipuncture procedures.
,\A terminally ill patient has asked the doctor about possible volunteer opportunities in the
hospital. She says that if she can volunteer in the hospital, she might be able to extend her
life a bit longer from doing good deeds. This represents the ____ stage of grief for the
patient.
a. bargaining
b. anger
c. denial
d. depression - ANS-a. bargaining
The bargaining stage focuses on the hope the patient has to extend her life. Anger can occur
once the patient realizes her life is being interrupted by the illness. Denial can include
rejecting information and preferring to be left alone. Depression affects the patient's mood or
behavior regarding the illness, and can cause despair and mourning.
\A wedge filter is a type of ______ filter.
a. inherent
b. compensating
c. added
d. trough - ANS-b. compensating
A wedge filter is a type of compensating filter. It is used to provide the receptor with uniform
exposure when imaging body structures with varying thicknesses (i.e., a foot). The thick
edge of the filter is placed over the thin structural part and the thin edge is placed over the
thick structural part.
\According to NCRP Report No. 116, annual occupational exposure to the lens of the eye
should not exceed:
a. 25 mSv
b. 50 mSv
c. 100 mSv
d. 150 mSv - ANS-d. 150 mSv
NCRP Report No. 116 states the annual occupational exposure limit for the lens of the eye is
150 mSv, or 15 rem.
\According to the American College of Radiology, which of the following are indications for
obtaining a skeletal survey?
1. suspected non accidental trauma
2. skeletal dysplasias, syndromes, and metabolic disorders
3. neoplasms - ANS-1, 2, and 3
\All of the following affect the spatial resolution of an image EXCEPT FOR:
a. kVp
b. part size
c. tube angle
d. SID - ANS-a. kVP
Kilovolts peak has an effect on receptor exposure and contrast only. Tube angle affects
spatial resolution because of unequal magnification of the part. Part size affects spatial
resolution because of magnification (larger parts increase the OID, which results in
decreased spatial resolution). SID affects spatial resolution because of beam divergence.
, \All of the following are within acceptable kVp accuracy variance for an exposure using 80
kVp EXECPT FOR ____ kVp.
a. 86
b. 84
c. 82
d. 76 - ANS-a. 86
The kVp variance is within +5%. At 80 kVp, the variance is 4 kVp (80 x 0.05 = 4). Therefore,
76-84 kVp is within acceptable limits.
\All of the following EXCEPT ___ will result in an increase in AEC response time.
a. decreasing the kVp
b. Increasing the focal spot size
c. increasing the part thickness
d. increasing the SID - ANS-b. increasing the focal spot size
Increasing the focal spot size does not change the AEC response time It affects the spatial
resolution. Decreasing the kVp increases the exposure time because more photons are
absorbed, resulting in fewer reaching the cell(s). The same is true for increasing part
thickness. Increasing the SID results in a longer exposure time because of beam divergence
and the decrease in the number of photons reaching the cell(s).
\An acceptable PA chest exam is taken using 300 mA, 0.008 seconds, and 110 kVp. If this
examination is repeated using an AEC that has a minimum response time of 10 ms, which of
the following exposure factors would be appropriate?
a. 400 mA, 0.006 seconds, 110 kVp
b. 200 mA, 0.012 seconds, 110 kVp
c. 600 mA, 0.004 seconds, 110 kVp
d. all of the above would be appropriate - ANS-b. 200 mA, 0.006 seconds, 110 kVp
The minimum response time (MRT) is the amount of time it takes for the AEC to detect and
respond to an exposure. In this example, the MRT is 10 ms (0.01 seconds). This means that
the AEC will not terminate an exposure in less than 0.01 seconds. Therefore, the only
exposure setting that does not violate the MRT of this AEC is 200 mA. If 200 mA is selected,
the exposure time will run for 0.012 seconds and the receptor will be properly exposed. If the
exposure time for an exam is less than the MRT, the receptor exposure increases because
the unit will not turn off until the MRT is reached.
\An image that has many shades of gray with few differences among them is defined as
exhibiting:
a. high spatial resolution
b. low contrast
c. high dynamic range
d. low bit depth - ANS-b. low contrast
Low-contrast images consist of many gray shades with very little differences among the
shades. These images are also referred to as exhibiting long-scale contrast. Spatial
resolution deals with image sharpness and dynamic range is the imaging detector's range of
response to exposures. Bit depth has to do with the number of gray shades that a system
can yield. A low bit depth system would actually result in an image that displays few shades
of gray. In other words, the image would appear more black and white.
