If you see a herringbone slide during a radiographic procedure, what should you do?

If you see a herringbone slide during a radiographic procedure, what should you do?

• A. Repeat the exposure
• B. Reverse the slide
• C. Change the film settings
• D. Adjust the patient’s positioning

Answer: (B)

Seeing a herringbone slide indicates that there is a reversal of the film, typically because the film has been placed with the wrong side facing the X-ray tube. The herringbone pattern is a distinctive artifact that appears when the film is developed with the wrong side exposed, leading to image distortion. When this pattern is observed, it is critical to reverse the slide to ensure that the correct side of the film faces the X-ray source during the subsequent exposures. This step is necessary to obtain a clear and accurate radiographic image that can aid in diagnosis. Adjusting the patient’s positioning, changing film settings, or repeating the exposure without first reversing the film would not address the fundamental issue of the herringbone artifact and would likely lead to more incorrect images, thereby complicating the examination process.

Seeing a herringbone slide indicates that there is a reversal of the film, typically because the film has been placed with the wrong side facing the X-ray tube. The herringbone pattern is a distinctive artifact that appears when the film is developed with the wrong side exposed, leading to image distortion.

When this pattern is observed, it is critical to reverse the slide to ensure that the correct side of the film faces the X-ray source during the subsequent exposures. This step is necessary to obtain a clear and accurate radiographic image that can aid in diagnosis.

Adjusting the patient’s positioning, changing film settings, or repeating the exposure without first reversing the film would not address the fundamental issue of the herringbone artifact and would likely lead to more incorrect images, thereby complicating the examination process.