CAMRT Radiography Practice Exam

What adjustment can be made to the central ray to project the clavicles above the apices of the lungs if the patient cannot be placed in lordotic position?

1. 15-20 degrees caudad

2. 15-20 degrees cephalad

3. 30-40 degrees caudad

4. 30-40 degrees cephalad

The correct answer is: 15-20 degrees cephalad

To project the clavicles above the apices of the lungs when the patient cannot be positioned in a lordotic position, the central ray should be angled cephalad. When adjusting the central ray in this matter, angling it 15-20 degrees cephalad raises the clavicles away from the lung apices, effectively moving them out of the way to allow for a clearer view of the lungs. This positioning helps in the visualization of any pathology that may be present in the apices of the lungs without the clavicles obstructing the view. In this context, a cephalad angle is appropriate because it counteracts the natural inclination of the clavicles to project over the lung apices when the patient is in a supine or upright position without lordotic positioning. Adjusting the central ray during imaging is crucial for obtaining diagnostic quality images, particularly in situations where anatomical structures obscure the area of interest. Other angles, whether caudad or different cephalad degrees above the recommended 15-20 degrees, do not achieve the same effective separation of the clavicles from the lung field. Therefore, the adjustment of 15-20 degrees cephalad is the best choice for this specific imaging challenge.