Which projection would result in foreshortening of the anatomy being imaged?

• A. Anteroposterior (AP) lordotic chest
• B. Cross-table lateral foot
• C. Axial plantodorsal calcaneus
• D. Anteroposterior (AP) elbow

Answer: (A)

Foreshortening happens when the part is angled toward the imaging receptor, so the structures on the radiograph appear shorter than they truly are. In the AP lordotic chest projection, the patient is tilted backward so the thorax isn’t parallel to the image receptor. That tilt changes the angle between the anatomy and the beam, making thoracic structures—like the sternum and mediastinal contours—show up shortened on the image. The other projections keep the anatomy more in line with the receptor or require a projection angle that doesn’t shorten the overall length of the structure in the same way—so they don’t produce the same foreshortening effect.