American Society of Radiologic Technologist (ASRT) Practice Exam

The feature that maintains image quality at the lowest dose in fluoroscopy is Automatic Exposure Rate Control (AERC). AERC is designed to automatically adjust the radiation dose based on the patient's size, the type of examination being performed, and the specific imaging conditions. This feature helps to optimize the exposure level, ensuring that patients receive the least amount of radiation necessary to achieve a clear and diagnostic-quality image. By continuously assessing the imaging conditions, AERC allows for adjustments in exposure parameters in real-time. This results in consistent image quality, which is essential in fluoroscopic procedures where prolonged exposure to radiation may occur. Efficient management of exposure time and radiation dose not only safeguards patient health but also supports the radiologic technologist's goal of adhering to the ALARA (As Low As Reasonably Achievable) principle. In contrast, the other options do not focus specifically on controlling radiation dose while maintaining image quality in fluoroscopy. While AEC (Automatic Exposure Control) automates the process of adjusting the exposure based on image receptor response, it is not exclusively tailored for fluoroscopy or aimed solely at dose reduction. ABC (Automatic Brightness Control) adjusts the brightness of the fluoroscopic image but does not directly manage dose optimization in the same precise manner as AERC.