Regarding the use of AEC to minimize patient exposure, which statement is true?

• A. AEC eliminates the need to adjust kVp
• B. The technologist must select the correct AEC sensors and adjust kVp appropriately for each patient, ensuring minimal exposure
• C. AEC should always be turned off for pediatric exams
• D. AEC automatically exposes at a fixed dose for all patients

Answer: (B)

The key idea is that AEC helps keep exposure in check only when it is used with proper technique. AEC will terminate the exposure once the detector reaches the programmed signal, but that control depends on correct sensor placement and appropriate technique settings. For each patient, you must choose the correct AEC sensor(s) to cover the anatomy of interest and set the kVp (and other factors) suitable for that patient’s size and the exam. If the sensors are misaligned or the kVp is not appropriate, the AEC can stop too soon or too late, leading to under- or overexposure and possibly repeats.

Thus, the statement that best captures minimizing patient exposure is that the technologist selects the correct AEC sensors and adjusts kVp suitably for each patient to achieve the needed image with minimal dose. AEC does not eliminate the need to adjust kVp, it is not always turned off for pediatric exams, and it does not expose at a fixed dose for all patients.