What is the best way to reduce a patient's exposure to radiation during an X-ray procedure?

Question

Question

Answer 1

Correct Answer: Using appropriate collimation

Rationale:

Collimation refers to the process of narrowing the beam of X-rays to the area of interest on the patient's body. This technique reduces the amount of scattered radiation and limits the exposure to only the necessary area, thereby minimizing the patient's overall radiation exposure.
By using appropriate collimation, the radiologic technologist ensures that only the part of the body being examined is exposed to the X-ray beam, reducing the risk of radiation-induced damage to surrounding tissues.
Collimation also enhances the quality of the diagnostic image by reducing scatter radiation, which can degrade the image quality.

Explanation of Other Options:

Increasing exposure time

Rationale: Increasing the exposure time would actually increase the patient's exposure to radiation, as the patient would be subjected to the X-ray beam for a longer duration. This is contrary to the goal of reducing radiation exposure.

Reducing the distance between the X-ray tube and the patient

Rationale: Reducing the distance between the X-ray tube and the patient increases the intensity of the radiation reaching the patient, thereby increasing their exposure. According to the inverse square law, the intensity of radiation is inversely proportional to the square of the distance from the source.

Using lower kVp settings

Rationale: While using lower kVp settings can reduce the energy of the X-rays and thus the penetration power, it may not significantly reduce the overall radiation dose. Lower kVp settings can also result in lower image quality, which might necessitate retakes, ultimately leading to increased radiation exposure.

Conclusion:

Among the given options, using appropriate collimation is the most effective method to reduce a patient's exposure to radiation during an X-ray procedure. It ensures that only the necessary area is exposed, enhances image quality, and minimizes unnecessary radiation exposure to surrounding tissues.