RAD 112: ABDOMINAL POSITIONING QUESTIONS
What is the general preparation that should be done for a abdominal x-ray? - Answers
:Removal of all clothing and opaque objects, Hospital gown (opening in back), & Shoes
and socks may be left on
Before the patient enters the room, for any exam, what should you make sure of? -
Answers :Make sure the room & table are clean
Before the patient enters the room, for any exam the patient will be laying on table, what
should you make sure of? - Answers :Make sure there is a clean pillow case on the
pillow
What are three different types of markers? - Answers :side, position, and time markers
Where and how should the side marker be positioned? - Answers :Anatomical side of
body, need to be visible on image, & should not be added electronically
What are the different position markers? - Answers :upright, decub, and portable
What are three ways to provide radiation protection? - Answers :Shield if not in area of
interest or according to department protocol, close collimation, & repeat exposures kept
to a minimum
What is the range of kVp usually used for an abdomen? - Answers :70-80
What is the time used for an abdomen? - Answers :Short enough to stop involuntary
motion
How much mA is used for an average size patient? - Answers :320 to 400 mA
What sensors should be used for an abdomen? - Answers :All three sensors or Center
camber
What are some other common names for an AP (supine) abdomen? - Answers :KUB,
flat plate, scout, & prelim (Preliminary film)
What is an AP abdomen used to rule out? - Answers :certain pathologies, check bowel
prep prior to contrast studies, & check positioning and technique prior to contrast
studies
What are the two different types of structures seen in the abdomen? - Answers :soft
tissue & bony structures
, What are the different types of soft tissue seen in the abdomen? - Answers :Liver,
spleen, kidneys, psoas muscles, abnormal masses, calcifications or accumulations of
gas
What are the different types of bony structures seen in the abdomen? - Answers :Pelvis,
lumbar spine, sacrum, coccyx, lower ribs, and hip joints
What are the technical factors that need to be set for an AP abdomen? - Answers :IR
Size Type: 14 x 17" usually lengthwise
Grid or Table Bucky: on
kVp Range: 70-80
mA Range: 320-400
SID: 44"/40" depending on table
What is the shielding used for an AP abdomen? - Answers :Use of gonadal shielding
will vary with department
What is the position of the patient? - Answers :Supine, knees flexed, arms out from side
or high on the chest, body centered transversely on the table, mid-sagittal aligned to
long axis of table, no tilt, & no rotation
What happens if a patient is wider than 14"? - Answers :you will have to take 2 images
with IR crosswise with 1-2 inch minimum overlap
What is the central ray of an AP abdomen for an average patient? - Answers :Iliac crest,
midsagittal, & tube angle is perpendicular to plane of IR
If no tube angle is given for a projection, what is assumed? - Answers :it is vertical
What is the collimation for an AP abdomen? - Answers :Transverse: 14" or 1" beyond
lateral costal margins smaller patients
Longitudinal: 17"
When is the exposure made during a respiration? - Answers :full expiration on all
abdomens
Locally, when is the exposure made during a respiration? - Answers :during full
inspiration
What are the assumptions the radiologist will make for an AP abdomen? - Answers
:Projection: AP Abdomen
Body Position: Supine
SID: 40 or 44"
What must by included, nationally, on an AP abdomen? - Answers :Symphysis pubis &
up
What is the general preparation that should be done for a abdominal x-ray? - Answers
:Removal of all clothing and opaque objects, Hospital gown (opening in back), & Shoes
and socks may be left on
Before the patient enters the room, for any exam, what should you make sure of? -
Answers :Make sure the room & table are clean
Before the patient enters the room, for any exam the patient will be laying on table, what
should you make sure of? - Answers :Make sure there is a clean pillow case on the
pillow
What are three different types of markers? - Answers :side, position, and time markers
Where and how should the side marker be positioned? - Answers :Anatomical side of
body, need to be visible on image, & should not be added electronically
What are the different position markers? - Answers :upright, decub, and portable
What are three ways to provide radiation protection? - Answers :Shield if not in area of
interest or according to department protocol, close collimation, & repeat exposures kept
to a minimum
What is the range of kVp usually used for an abdomen? - Answers :70-80
What is the time used for an abdomen? - Answers :Short enough to stop involuntary
motion
How much mA is used for an average size patient? - Answers :320 to 400 mA
What sensors should be used for an abdomen? - Answers :All three sensors or Center
camber
What are some other common names for an AP (supine) abdomen? - Answers :KUB,
flat plate, scout, & prelim (Preliminary film)
What is an AP abdomen used to rule out? - Answers :certain pathologies, check bowel
prep prior to contrast studies, & check positioning and technique prior to contrast
studies
What are the two different types of structures seen in the abdomen? - Answers :soft
tissue & bony structures
, What are the different types of soft tissue seen in the abdomen? - Answers :Liver,
spleen, kidneys, psoas muscles, abnormal masses, calcifications or accumulations of
gas
What are the different types of bony structures seen in the abdomen? - Answers :Pelvis,
lumbar spine, sacrum, coccyx, lower ribs, and hip joints
What are the technical factors that need to be set for an AP abdomen? - Answers :IR
Size Type: 14 x 17" usually lengthwise
Grid or Table Bucky: on
kVp Range: 70-80
mA Range: 320-400
SID: 44"/40" depending on table
What is the shielding used for an AP abdomen? - Answers :Use of gonadal shielding
will vary with department
What is the position of the patient? - Answers :Supine, knees flexed, arms out from side
or high on the chest, body centered transversely on the table, mid-sagittal aligned to
long axis of table, no tilt, & no rotation
What happens if a patient is wider than 14"? - Answers :you will have to take 2 images
with IR crosswise with 1-2 inch minimum overlap
What is the central ray of an AP abdomen for an average patient? - Answers :Iliac crest,
midsagittal, & tube angle is perpendicular to plane of IR
If no tube angle is given for a projection, what is assumed? - Answers :it is vertical
What is the collimation for an AP abdomen? - Answers :Transverse: 14" or 1" beyond
lateral costal margins smaller patients
Longitudinal: 17"
When is the exposure made during a respiration? - Answers :full expiration on all
abdomens
Locally, when is the exposure made during a respiration? - Answers :during full
inspiration
What are the assumptions the radiologist will make for an AP abdomen? - Answers
:Projection: AP Abdomen
Body Position: Supine
SID: 40 or 44"
What must by included, nationally, on an AP abdomen? - Answers :Symphysis pubis &
up
