Ace the Radiology Practice Test 2025 – X-ray Your Success!

To correct an elongated image, increasing the vertical angulation is an effective approach. When an X-ray image appears elongated, it typically indicates that the X-ray beam was not perpendicular to the object being imaged (such as a tooth in dental radiography). By increasing the vertical angulation, the X-ray beam is directed more towards the center of the area being imaged. This helps to project the anatomy more accurately on the film or digital sensor, thereby reducing the elongation effect and producing a more accurate representation of the object.

Adjusting the horizontal angulation can also affect image distortion, but it primarily addresses issues related to overlapping structures rather than elongation. Reducing vertical angulation may exacerbate the elongation effect, and while adjusting exposure settings is essential for image quality, it does not resolve the issue of elongation specifically. Therefore, increasing the vertical angulation stands out as the correct method to address an elongated image.