To Shield or Not to Shield: The Effects of Radiation on Patient Dose

Abstract

Lead shielding has long been the standard to minimize patient radiation dose during x-ray exams. Recent articles indicate that shields are not as effective as originally thought, and the current recommendation is to discontinue lead shielding of patients. To gain first-hand knowledge of lead shielding’s reduction in dose, experiments were performed utilizing x-ray exposure to radiosensitive organs of “phantom” patients both with and without lead shielding. It was concluded that while the use of lead shielding does reduce exposure slightly, it does not have a significant impact on patient dose. This may impact future education and practices of radiation safety.