(A) - Area:

• Is enough of the area being filmed covered? eg: In an shoulder film is  Glenohumeral joint 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?

(N) - Name:

• Does the image correctly identify the patient?
• Does it have any other relevant identification details? eg x-ray  number or department labels?

(P) 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.

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?