When a beverage is spilled on a cassette, which component will have to be replaced?

• A. Screens
• B. Cassette cover
• C. Film
• D. Light source

Answer: (A)

When a beverage spills on a cassette, the part most directly affected is the intensifying screens inside it. These screens are what convert x-ray energy into light to expose the film. Liquid intrusion can damage the phosphor coating, reduce light output, and cause nonuniform illumination or artifacts. Once the screens are compromised, image quality cannot be restored by simple cleaning, so replacement is required to return proper exposure characteristics. The cassette cover and the film are protected inside the unit, and the light source isn’t housed in the cassette, so they’re not the components that would be replaced due to the spill.