To avoid cone-cut and ensure proper receptor alignment, which steps should be taken?

• A. Align the PID with the receptor before exposure.
• B. Center the receptor in the beam and expose without alignment checks.
• C. Center the receptor in the beam, align the PID with the receptor, and verify minimal tilt before exposure.
• D. Verify tilt after exposure.

Answer: (C)

Preventing cone-cut and getting a uniformly exposed image comes from getting the beam and receptor positioned correctly before you click the exposure. Start with centering the receptor in the x‑ray field so the entire receptor area sits within the beam. If any part of the receptor is off-center, you risk part of it not receiving exposure at all, creating a cone-cut artifact. Next, align the PID (the cone) with the receptor so the beam is directed squarely at the receptor and is perpendicular to its plane; this keeps the beam edges even and avoids exposing the receptor at an angle, which can distort the image. Finally, verify that the receptor is nearly parallel to the beam with minimal tilt; even a small tilt can cause part of the receptor to fall outside the beam or create unequal exposure or distortion. Because you can’t fix cone-cut after exposure, these checks must be done before you expose the patient. Doing all three steps together ensures proper receptor alignment and prevents cone-cut.