Answer to Question #12746 Submitted to "Ask the Experts"
Category: Medical and Dental Patient Issues — Diagnostic X Ray and CT
The following question was answered by an expert in the appropriate field:
Q
While getting an x ray done, why do you not have to be covered with some protective material from the neck up?
A
The radiation dose drops off rapidly as you move away from the edge of the x-ray field. The only time shielding is called for is when the gonads are in the x-ray field and they can be shielded without compromising or interfering with the diagnostic procedure.
Kent Lambert, CHP, FHPS
Answer posted on 6 February 2019. The information posted on this web page is intended as general reference information only. Specific facts and circumstances may affect the applicability of concepts, materials, and information described herein. The information provided is not a substitute for professional advice and should not be relied upon in the absence of such professional advice. To the best of our knowledge, answers are correct at the time they are posted. Be advised that over time, requirements could change, new data could be made available, and Internet links could change, affecting the correctness of the answers. Answers are the professional opinions of the expert responding to each question; they do not necessarily represent the position of the Health Physics Society.