For a lateral lumbosacral spot, what is the recommended FFD?

In a lateral lumbosacral spot view, the recommended focal film distance (FFD) is typically 40 inches without tube tilt. This distance is chosen to ensure optimal detail and minimize distortion in the resulting radiograph. Maintaining a consistent FFD helps provide a clearer image of the vertebrae and intervertebral spaces, which is vital in assessing conditions affecting the lumbar spine and sacrum.

Using a 40-inch distance without tube tilt offers the necessary geometry and minimizes magnification, which allows for accurate measurements and evaluations. The absence of a tube tilt at this distance supports an accurate representation of anatomical structures in a lateral plane.

Other distances may alter the quality of the image or require compensatory adjustments that can complicate interpretation, which is why 40 inches without tube tilt is the standard practice for this specific view.