Advanced Patient Assessment Practice Exam

During what type of procedure is the risk of exposure to scatter radiation the greatest?

1. Performing or assisting with a bronchoscopy

2. Performing or assisting with a chest radiography

3. Performing or assisting during fluoroscopy

4. Performing or assisting with CT angiography

The correct answer is: Performing or assisting during fluoroscopy

The correct answer is associated with fluoroscopy due to the nature of this imaging technique. Fluoroscopy provides real-time imaging using X-rays, allowing clinicians to visualize internal structures as they perform diagnostic and therapeutic procedures. This continuous exposure to X-rays significantly increases the time staff are in the vicinity of radiation, leading to a higher risk of scatter radiation, which occurs when X-ray beams interact with matter and scatter in various directions. During fluoroscopic procedures, both the patient and any devices used can contribute to scatter radiation, creating an environment where healthcare providers are more likely to be exposed compared to other imaging modalities. In contrast, performing or assisting with procedures like bronchoscopy, chest radiography, or CT angiography typically involves more limited or localized exposure to radiation. In bronchoscopy, while there is some risk, it does not involve continuous X-ray exposure. Chest radiography delivers a single, brief exposure to X-rays, markedly reducing the possibility of scatter radiation in comparison to fluoroscopy. Lastly, CT angiography does involve radiation, but the scanning process happens in short intervals rather than a continuous stream, thus presenting a lower risk of scattered radiation compared to fluoroscopy.