Which pathologic condition may require a decrease in technical factors for imaging?

Osteoporosis is a condition characterized by reduced bone density and quality, resulting in bones that are more fragile and susceptible to fractures. When imaging patients with osteoporosis, it is important to decrease the technical factors, specifically the exposure settings like kilovoltage (kV) and milliampere-seconds (mAs). This reduction is necessary because the bones are less dense, which means they do not require as much radiation to achieve a clear image. A lower exposure helps in minimizing radiation dose while still ensuring that the images are of diagnostic quality.

In contrast, conditions like pneumonia, fractures, and atherosclerosis typically do not require a decrease in technical factors. Pneumonia usually involves denser fluid in the lungs, which can necessitate higher exposure settings to adequately visualize the affected areas. Fractures, depending on type and severity, often require standard technical factors to adequately demonstrate the injury. Atherosclerosis involves changes in the vascular system that may require regular exposure settings to visualize the vessels properly.