CAMRT Radiography Practice Exam

Which pathological condition may require a reduction in manual exposure factors?

1. Rotator cuff tear

2. Rheumatoid arthritis

3. Bursitis

4. Bankart lesion

The correct answer is: Rheumatoid arthritis

Rheumatoid arthritis is a systemic inflammatory disorder that primarily affects joints. In individuals suffering from this condition, there is often a significant amount of joint effusion and soft tissue swelling, which can alter the radiographic appearance of joints. This increased radiographic density caused by surrounding soft tissues may require a reduction in manual exposure factors to avoid overexposure and ensure the imaging captures the relevant anatomical details without compromising diagnostic quality. On the other hand, conditions like rotator cuff tears, bursitis, and Bankart lesions typically involve less soft tissue density influence on radiographs. Therefore, they do not usually necessitate a reduction in exposure factors to the same extent as rheumatoid arthritis does. In these cases, the focus is more on visualizing bony structures and any degenerative changes rather than adjusting for increased tissue density resulting from inflammation.