Which type of shape distortion occurs when there is angulation of the image receptor?

Which type of shape distortion occurs when there is angulation of the image receptor?

• A. Elongation
• B. Foreshortening
• C. Magnification
• D. Minification

Answer: (A)

When the image receptor is angled, the geometry of how the X-ray beam projects the anatomy onto the detector changes. Tilting the receptor means the rays strike the object at an oblique angle, stretching the projection along the direction of the tilt. The result is an image that appears longer than the actual anatomy, which is elongated distortion. If the part were angled toward the beam, you’d instead see foreshortening, where the image looks shorter. Magnification comes from increasing the distance between the object and detector, and minification from decreasing that distance. So, angulation of the receptor creates elongation.

When the image receptor is angled, the geometry of how the X-ray beam projects the anatomy onto the detector changes. Tilting the receptor means the rays strike the object at an oblique angle, stretching the projection along the direction of the tilt. The result is an image that appears longer than the actual anatomy, which is elongated distortion. If the part were angled toward the beam, you’d instead see foreshortening, where the image looks shorter. Magnification comes from increasing the distance between the object and detector, and minification from decreasing that distance. So, angulation of the receptor creates elongation.