What is a correct patient position when performing an AP projection of a Thoracic spine view?

• A. Standing at the upright bucky
• B. Supine on the table
• C. Standing at the upright bucky or supine on the table
• D. Seated upright

Answer: (C)

For an AP view of the thoracic spine, the patient can be in either upright or recumbent position. Standing at the upright bucky places the spine in a natural vertical alignment and often helps with patient comfort and cooperation, while lying supine on the table provides excellent stability and minimizes motion when standing isn’t possible. The key point is keeping the thoracic spine parallel to the image receptor and centered so the vertebral bodies are well visualized with minimal distortion. In practice, you’d position the patient to optimize stability and comfort, typically with the arms drawn forward or the shoulders rolled forward to move the scapulae away from the spine, and center the CR to T7.