During radiography of infants, when photo timing is not available, technique charts must be based on which parameter?

• A. Size
• B. Age
• C. Body Mass Index
• D. All of the Above

Answer: (A)

When phototiming isn’t available, you pick exposure factors based on how much tissue the x-ray beam must pass through. That tissue amount is essentially the patient’s size, so size directly dictates how much attenuation occurs and what exposure will produce acceptable image density. Age alone isn’t reliable because infants of the same age can have markedly different body thickness. BMI isn’t a standard or practical parameter for infant technique charts, and it doesn’t consistently reflect the radiographic attenuation you’ll encounter. Therefore, using the infant’s size provides the most accurate basis for selecting technique to achieve proper image quality.