A patient asks why he had to take a deep breath when the radiology technician took his chest radiograph.Which statement is the best response?
A) "Deep breaths get the chest wall closer to the machine."
B) "When the lungs are filled with air, you get a clearer picture."
C) "Taking a deep breath decreases the error caused by motion."
D) "Holding your breath makes the heart appear larger."

Question

Quizplus · Accepted Answer

A radiograph is taken when the patient has taken a deep breath (inspiration).During exhalation,the lungs are less full of air,which can make the lung tissue appear "cloudy" as if there is additional lung water.The heart also appears larger during exhalation.This could lead to an erroneous diagnosis of heart failure.

A Patient Asks Why He Had to Take a Deep