What are the radiation exposure limits for patients for medical purposes?

a) 0.1 rem (1 mSv) per year

b) 5 rad

c) No limits are set for patient exposure to radiation for medical purposes

d) Less then 50 rem per year

c) No limits are set for patient exposure to radiation for medical purposes

There are no limits set for patient exposure to radiation for medical purposes. Such constraints could cause more harm than good. Instead, using radiation to diagnose or treat should be made on a risk verses risk basis.

Why is the principle of attenuation important in DXA scanning?

a) Attenuation is largely influenced by the tissue the X-Ray beam passes through.

b) Tissues with higher density contain more electrons so the intensity of the beam is affected as it passes though (ex. bone)

c) Absorptiometry is then a method for measuring BMD using attenuation of a gamma or x radiation beam.

d) All the above

d) All the above

Attenuation is responsible for the behavior of photons as they pass through the body. High density tissues, such as bone, will absorb more photons. Simple put, the number of photons that reach the detector influence the BMD.

What is attenuation?

a) Focusing radio waves to broadcast a specified radio station

b) The reduction of the energy or number of X-Ray photons in a beam

c) The means to harness electromagnetic waves

d) An increase of the number of X-Ray photons

b) The reduction of the energy or number of X-Ray photons in a beam

Attenuation is the reduction of the energy or number of X=Ray photons (intensity) of a beam.

What does ALARA stand for?

a) As Low as Reasonably Achievable

b) Apply Little as Radiographically Applicable

c) Acronym to check exposure factors

d) As long as reasonably accepted

a) As Low as Reasonably Achievable

ALARA stands for "As Low as Reasonably Achievable" and is a radiation protection acronym. ALARA is based on the principle that unnecessary radiation exposure is not acceptable, even in osteoporosis.

What is mutagenesis?

a) Latent effects that cause most types of cancers

b) The exposure of parents following massive radiation doses that increases the probability of sever genetic effects for future generations

c) In utero exposure that can cause miscarriage and congenital abnormalities of the fetus

d) A condition unrelated to radiation exposure

b) The exposure of parents following massive radiation doses that increases the probability of sever genetic effects for future generations

Mutagenesis is the exposure of parents. Severe genetic effects in future generations can result.

True or False

Radiation is present everyday from natural sources.

True

Radiation is present from natural sources both inherent to earth and present in space. Visible light and radio waves are common forms.

If a patient states there is a possibility of pregnancy, what is the appropriate response?

a) Postpone DXA exam until pregnancy is ruled out.

b) Perform exam with pelvic shielding

c) Perform exam as normal, no action is required

d) Call patient's ordering physician to get direction

a) Postpone DXA exam until pregnancy is ruled out.

Postpone the exam until pregnancy is ruled out. Bone density studies are not "stat" exams so there is no good reason to risk radiation exposure if pregnancy is possible.

Name the concepts of radiation protection for the technologist.

a) Time, distance and shielding

b) Monitoring occupational dose (maximum is 50 mSv per year for radiation worker)

c) Wear a personal dosimeter (technologist)

d) All the above

d) All the above

Time, distance and shielding are the biggest factors for technologists performing DXA scans. Choosing the shortest scan time that is appropriate for the patient and staying a distance of 1 meter away from DXA table are generally acceptable. Shielding is seldom necessary.

Stochastic effects are:

a) Randomly occurring adverse effects

b) Delayed

c) A function of dose, however, the risk is small and there is no specific threshold dose.

d) All the above

d) All the above

Stochastic effects are delayed, randomly occurring adverse effects. Evidence suggest these effects are a function of dose, however, the risk is small and there is no specific threshold dose.

Rad is an acronym and an abbreviation of radiation absorbed dose. What does the rad measure and what is the SI equivalent?

a) The amount of radiation entering the body.

b) The rad measures the skin entry dose or entrance skin dose

c) The rad is equal to the Gray (Gy)

d) All the above

d) All the above

The rad is often referred to as the skin entry dose. The mathematical relationship is 100 rad = 1Gy or rad(0.01)

The Roentgen (R), named after William Roentgen, measures:

a) How radioactive a material is

b) The amount of ionization in the air as a result of X-Rays. c) Typically used to measure scatter radiation from an X-Ray device in use

d) Choice 2 and 3 only

d) Choice 2 and 3 only

The Roentgen (R) is a unit of radiation that measures how much ionization is in the air and scatter radiation from X-Ray devices in use.

True or False

Erythema can be caused by DXA studies.

False

Skin reddening or erythema cannot occur as a result of a central DXA exam because the scanner cannot deliver a high enough radiation dose.

Hematologic death, gastrointestinal death and central nervous system death are three types of __________________ syndromes.

a) Metabolic

b) Acute Lethal Radiation

c) Mutagenesis

d) Ionizing radiation

b) Acute Lethal Radiation

Acute Lethal Radiation Syndromes are extreme harmful effects of a high radiation exposure. The type of damage is never associated with DXA scans.

Why is it prudent for a technologist to understand radiation safety and awareness?

a) The radiation dose to a patient during a DXA scan is equivalent to a pelvis CT scan.

b) There is no reason to understand radiation safety in DXA

c) Because ionizing radiation can be hazardous to living beings and cause damage to living cells

d) DXA scans can be dangerous for a technologist to perform due to radiation exposure

c) Because ionizing radiation can be hazardous to living beings and cause damage to living cells

Ionizing radiation can cause harm to living cells.

Who are radiation protection programs designed to protect?

a) The public

b) The patient

c) The technologist and other medical staff involved

d) All the above

d) All the above

Radiation protection programs are designed to protect everyone. This includes patients, the public and healthcare workers.

True or False

X-Rays can travel in a straight line in any direction.

True

X-Rays can only travel in a straight line in any direction.

The Rem is another radiation quantity measurement. Why is the rem different from the rad?

a) There is no difference as they measure the same thing

b) The rem is only used in radiation therapy

c) The rem is the unit of radiation measurement from accidental exposure

d) The rem has a quality factor applied because different types of ionizing radiation have different probabilities for tissue damage

d) The rem has a quality factor applied because different types of ionizing radiation have different probabilities for tissue damage

The rem measures the radiation exposure a patient received. A quality factor is always applied. Medical X-Rays have a quality factor of 1.

What does KVP control in medical X-Rays?

a) The direction of the X-Ray beam

b) The quantity of the X-Ray beam (number of photons produced)

c) The quality of the beam and the contrast or gray scale of the image

d) The density of resulting image

c) The quality of the beam and the contrast or gray scale of the image

KVP controls the quality of the beam. KVP also has the biggest influence of image contrast.

What is a Sievert?

a) The SI equivalent to the rem. 100 rems = 1Sv

b) 1 ounce of radioactive material

c) Mathematical expression used to convert effective dose

d) Nuclear power measurement

a) The SI equivalent to the rem. 100 rems = 1Sv

A Sievert is the SI equivalent to the rem. 1 Sv = 100 rems.

Should signage illustrating radiation use be posted on the door of the DXA room?

a) Yes

b) No

c) Depends on state regulations

d) The sign must be posted at the entrance of the facility only

a) Yes

Signs illustrating radiation use should always be posted on the door of the DXA room.