Which pathologic condition requires an increase in exposure factors?

The condition that necessitates an increase in exposure factors is ascites. Ascites involves the accumulation of fluid in the abdominal cavity, which can lead to increased tissue thickness and density. When imaging a patient with ascites, the increased fluid can obscure underlying structures and require a higher exposure to penetrate effectively through the denser area of fluid-filled tissue.

When adjusting imaging parameters, technicians will often increase the kilovoltage (kV) and milliampere-seconds (mAs) to ensure adequate exposure allows for the proper visualization of the anatomy of interest while compensating for the additional density caused by the fluid. This adjustment is critical to prevent underexposure, which could result in lost diagnostic information.

In contrast, conditions like pneumoperitoneum, obstructed bowel, and renal colic often do not require an increase in exposure factors. For instance, pneumoperitoneum typically involves the presence of free air in the abdomen, which is less dense than surrounding tissues and might actually require reduced exposure, while obstructed bowel and renal colic may involve less fluid or increased gas that may not necessitate increased exposure settings either.