What technological adjustment did GE make to correct magnification on their bone densitometry machine?

• A. Increased the beam intensity
• B. Switched to using a narrow fan beam
• C. Changed to a wider detector array
• D. Altered the scanning speed

Answer: (B)

The decision to switch to using a narrow fan beam is a significant advancement in bone densitometry technology. A narrow fan beam effectively reduces the geometric magnification of the images captured during scanning. This is crucial because magnification can introduce inaccuracies in bone density measurements, leading to potential misdiagnosis or mismanagement of conditions such as osteoporosis.

By utilizing a narrow fan beam, the machine can focus more precisely on the region of interest, thus minimizing the effects of scatter and allowing for a clearer, more defined image of the bone structure. Consequently, this improvement enhances the overall accuracy of the bone density measurement, allowing healthcare providers to make better-informed clinical decisions.

The other options involve adjustments that, while they may have their own benefits in other contexts, do not specifically address the correction of magnification in the same direct manner as the narrow fan beam does.