What adjustment might be made when imaging a patient with a history of surgery in the area of interest?

When imaging a patient with a history of surgery in the area of interest, it is often necessary to consider changes to the imaging parameters to accommodate any alterations in anatomy or increased tissue density resulting from surgical interventions. Additional exposure time may be required to ensure adequate penetration and to produce high-quality images that clearly depict the surgical area. Surgical sites can have various densities due to the presence of hardware or scar tissue, necessitating an adjustment in exposure settings to avoid underexposure.

In contrast, there are situations where positioning may remain unchanged, or no adjustments might be necessary. However, these do not take into account the specific challenges posed by the patient’s surgical history. Different imaging techniques could also be relevant, but they may not specifically address the need for changes in exposure time due to alterations in tissue density. Therefore, increasing exposure time is a direct response to these considerations, making it the most appropriate adjustment in this scenario.