CAMRT Radiography Practice Exam

What indicates that the patient was excessively rotated in a sternum imaging?

1. The sternum is overexposed

2. The sternum is underexposed

3. The sternum is lateral to the expected midpoint

4. The heart shadow is not visible

The correct answer is: The sternum is lateral to the expected midpoint

When assessing whether a patient has been excessively rotated during sternum imaging, the key indicator is that the sternum appears lateral to the expected midpoint. In a properly positioned patient, the sternum should align with the midline of the thorax. If there is excessive rotation, the sternum will shift laterally, indicating that the patient has been rotated away from the ideal position. The relationship to the midline is crucial because it directly impacts the visualization of the relevant anatomy. Proper alignment ensures that the sternum is clearly seen in relation to other structures, such as the heart and lungs. Therefore, when the sternum is observed to be lateral, it signifies a positioning error, emphasizing the necessity for correct patient alignment in thoracic imaging to obtain accurate and diagnostically useful images. Other options, such as exposure-related problems (overexposure or underexposure), and the visibility of the heart shadow are related to different technical issues and do not specifically indicate a problem with the patient’s rotational position. These factors would not directly provide the same information regarding the axial alignment of the sternum.