PACEMAN is a technique for radiographers to use to determine if a plain film radiograph is of diagnostic quality.

It was devised in the 1980's by Roger Windle in Adelaide, South Australia to help other radiographers and students have a structured way in which to critique radiographic images. At the time, Pacman video game was the rage and it just so happened that the first letters of the areas that were identified as important to critique, made up the acronym PACEMAN. It has been widely used since then.

It is an acronym used to remember the following

• Position
• Area
• Collimation
• Exposure
• Markers
• Aesthetics
• Name
  
  Below is a summary of the qualities that are needed for each letter of PACEMAN
  
  
  (P) - Position:
  Is the patient in the correct position?
  Is the patient rotated?
  Does the image correctly show any needed joint spaces?
  
  (A) - Area:
  Is enough of the area being filmed covered? eg: In an abdominal film is pubic symphysis to diaphragms covered?
  Have you exposed an area that is not required?
  
  (C) - Collimation:
  Is the image properly collimated? eg is four way collimation seen on an extremities film?
  
  (E) - Exposure:
  Were the exposure factors set correctly?
  Does the image show the correct contrast and density?
  Are there any factors that need to be changed to produce a better image?
  
  (M) - Markers:
  Have markers been placed on the image?
  Are they correctly identifying left and right?
  
  (A) - Aesthetics:
  Is the image nice to look at?
  Is it centered on the film?
  Is there four way collimation?
  
  (N) - Name:
  Does the image correctly identify the patient?
  Does it have any other relevant identification details? eg episode number or department labels?
  
  
  Through the use of this Image Evaluation Technique, and by cautiously following this, repeat exposures can be minimized and good quality radiographs are produced. For students, this technique will be of help to them because this will serve as their guide on how to critique radiographic image and quality.
  
  
  

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