What can cause excessive distortion of anatomic structures in radiography?

Improper central ray angulation for the selected radiographic projection can lead to excessive distortion of anatomic structures because the alignment of the central ray greatly affects how the anatomy is projected onto the imaging receptor. When the central ray is not positioned correctly, specific structures may appear elongated or compressed, resulting in inaccurate representations that can obscure essential details or alter anatomical relationships. This misalignment can result from angling the tube too steeply or too shallowly relative to the area being imaged, thereby distorting the true anatomy depicted in the final image. Proper technique, including correct angulation, is crucial to ensure accurate imaging and diagnostic quality.

In contrast, incorrect exposure time primarily impacts image density and contrast rather than distortion; poor film development affects image quality as well but does not directly cause anatomical distortion; insufficient film size mainly influences the field of view and might cut off parts of the anatomy but does not inherently distort the structures that are captured.