MCN 538 LATEST 2026 EVALUATIONS QUESTIONS AND
ANSWERS GRADED A+
✔✔Evaluation of a patient prior to CT scan with contrast - ✔✔CT, or computed
tomography, is a highly sensitive X-ray used for differentiating slight differences
between characteristics of anatomic structure (tissue, solid organ, bone, gas, fat).
It is unique in that it generates cross sections or slices of X-ray images of any body part
and can isolate virtually any abdominal organ to discern depth of organ/tissue
involvement of a tumor, clotted vs. WNL blood, and airspace vs. CSF. Sometimes,
contrast media is necessary to accentuate hollow viscera (intestines) and bl ood
vessels.
✔✔Iodine Contrast Test Precautions - ✔✔● Assess whether pt understands the test
purpose and procedure -educate accordingly
● Rule out pregnancy in women. If +, notify radiology
● Check creatinine prior to test, if indicated
● Assess for patient allergies to iodine + latex; N/V/warmth/flushing may indicate allergy
to iodine
● Confirm pt has fasted:
○ CT Head/Neck/Brain/Eyes/Sinus: 2-3 hours prior to the test if contrast has been
planned
○ Abdominal CT: NPO
○ Chest/Spine/Extremities/Pelvis: solid food fasting day of procedure but ok for clear
liquids up to 2 hours prior to study; check with diagnostic dept if any questions
● Evaluate for claustrophobia and patient ability to be still (sedate PRN) and assist pt in
acclimating
✔✔Iodine Contrast Test Precautions---diabetes and is taking metformin - ✔✔● If the pt
has diabetes and is taking metformin or insulin, special considerations may be
necessaryconsult with radiology to determine if the regimen must be held the day of and
several days after the study
✔✔Iodine Contrast Patient Education - ✔✔● Some patients experience N/V/
warmth/flushing/salty metallic taste after receiving iodine contrast agent (IV) ● Ok to
take regular RX even if fasting prior to CT
✔✔Pelvic CT ● - ✔✔Usually requires IV + barium contrast enema (rectally) and may be
required to place a contrastenhanced vaginal tampon to delineate the vaginal walls
✔✔Abdomen CT - ✔✔● Drink a special contrast preparation to outline bowel + IV
, ✔✔Blood Vessel Delineation - ✔✔● IV
✔✔folate deficiency- - ✔✔decrease ingestion
lack of veggies, alcoholism, infancy
✔✔folate deficiency-impaired absorption- - ✔✔intestinal short circuits, steatorrhea,
spruce, celiac disease, intrinsic intestinal disease, anticonvulsants, oral contraceptives,
other drugs
✔✔Folate deficiency--increased requirement - ✔✔pregnancy, infancy, hypothyroidism,
hyperactive hematopoiesis, neoplastic disease, exfoliative skin disease
✔✔Folate deficiency--increased loss - ✔✔hemodialysis
✔✔DEXA Scan Results: - ✔✔T-Score; the lower your score, the weaker your bones
are:
● T-Score of -1.0 - +1.0 = normal bone density
● T-Score of -1.0 and -2.5 = low bone density or osteopenia
● T-Score of -2.5 or lower = osteoporosis
✔✔T-Score shows how much higher or lower your bone density is than that of a healthy
30 year old - ✔✔(age when bones are at their strongest);
T-Score of zero means bone density is equal to that of a healthy young adult
USPTF recommends women 65 or older and women ages 60 or older who have higher
chance of fractures receive DEXA scans
✔✔Interpretation of Dexa scan results - - ✔✔Dual Energy X-Ray Absorptiometry
(DEXA);
Based on a 3- compartment model that divides the body into total body mineral mass,
fat-free lean mass and fat tissue mass.
✔✔DEXA is based on the assumption that - ✔✔bone mineral content is directly
proportional to the amount of photon energy absorbed by the bone being studied. DEXA
uses a whole body scanner, which has 2 low - dose x-rays that read bone and soft
tissue mass simultaneously and takes between 10-20 minutes.
✔✔DEXA is the GOLD STANDARD - ✔✔in body composition analysis because it
provides higher degree of precision in one measurement and provides information
about where fat is distributed throughout the body.
ANSWERS GRADED A+
✔✔Evaluation of a patient prior to CT scan with contrast - ✔✔CT, or computed
tomography, is a highly sensitive X-ray used for differentiating slight differences
between characteristics of anatomic structure (tissue, solid organ, bone, gas, fat).
It is unique in that it generates cross sections or slices of X-ray images of any body part
and can isolate virtually any abdominal organ to discern depth of organ/tissue
involvement of a tumor, clotted vs. WNL blood, and airspace vs. CSF. Sometimes,
contrast media is necessary to accentuate hollow viscera (intestines) and bl ood
vessels.
✔✔Iodine Contrast Test Precautions - ✔✔● Assess whether pt understands the test
purpose and procedure -educate accordingly
● Rule out pregnancy in women. If +, notify radiology
● Check creatinine prior to test, if indicated
● Assess for patient allergies to iodine + latex; N/V/warmth/flushing may indicate allergy
to iodine
● Confirm pt has fasted:
○ CT Head/Neck/Brain/Eyes/Sinus: 2-3 hours prior to the test if contrast has been
planned
○ Abdominal CT: NPO
○ Chest/Spine/Extremities/Pelvis: solid food fasting day of procedure but ok for clear
liquids up to 2 hours prior to study; check with diagnostic dept if any questions
● Evaluate for claustrophobia and patient ability to be still (sedate PRN) and assist pt in
acclimating
✔✔Iodine Contrast Test Precautions---diabetes and is taking metformin - ✔✔● If the pt
has diabetes and is taking metformin or insulin, special considerations may be
necessaryconsult with radiology to determine if the regimen must be held the day of and
several days after the study
✔✔Iodine Contrast Patient Education - ✔✔● Some patients experience N/V/
warmth/flushing/salty metallic taste after receiving iodine contrast agent (IV) ● Ok to
take regular RX even if fasting prior to CT
✔✔Pelvic CT ● - ✔✔Usually requires IV + barium contrast enema (rectally) and may be
required to place a contrastenhanced vaginal tampon to delineate the vaginal walls
✔✔Abdomen CT - ✔✔● Drink a special contrast preparation to outline bowel + IV
, ✔✔Blood Vessel Delineation - ✔✔● IV
✔✔folate deficiency- - ✔✔decrease ingestion
lack of veggies, alcoholism, infancy
✔✔folate deficiency-impaired absorption- - ✔✔intestinal short circuits, steatorrhea,
spruce, celiac disease, intrinsic intestinal disease, anticonvulsants, oral contraceptives,
other drugs
✔✔Folate deficiency--increased requirement - ✔✔pregnancy, infancy, hypothyroidism,
hyperactive hematopoiesis, neoplastic disease, exfoliative skin disease
✔✔Folate deficiency--increased loss - ✔✔hemodialysis
✔✔DEXA Scan Results: - ✔✔T-Score; the lower your score, the weaker your bones
are:
● T-Score of -1.0 - +1.0 = normal bone density
● T-Score of -1.0 and -2.5 = low bone density or osteopenia
● T-Score of -2.5 or lower = osteoporosis
✔✔T-Score shows how much higher or lower your bone density is than that of a healthy
30 year old - ✔✔(age when bones are at their strongest);
T-Score of zero means bone density is equal to that of a healthy young adult
USPTF recommends women 65 or older and women ages 60 or older who have higher
chance of fractures receive DEXA scans
✔✔Interpretation of Dexa scan results - - ✔✔Dual Energy X-Ray Absorptiometry
(DEXA);
Based on a 3- compartment model that divides the body into total body mineral mass,
fat-free lean mass and fat tissue mass.
✔✔DEXA is based on the assumption that - ✔✔bone mineral content is directly
proportional to the amount of photon energy absorbed by the bone being studied. DEXA
uses a whole body scanner, which has 2 low - dose x-rays that read bone and soft
tissue mass simultaneously and takes between 10-20 minutes.
✔✔DEXA is the GOLD STANDARD - ✔✔in body composition analysis because it
provides higher degree of precision in one measurement and provides information
about where fat is distributed throughout the body.
