How can radiation exposure be minimized during imaging procedures?

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Minimizing radiation exposure during imaging procedures is a fundamental principle in radiology, primarily aimed at protecting patients and healthcare workers from unnecessary radiation. Using shielding and optimizing equipment settings plays a crucial role in achieving this goal.

Shielding involves the use of protective barriers, such as lead aprons or walls, to absorb or deflect radiation before it reaches the patient or staff. This physical barrier significantly reduces the amount of radiation that is scattered or directed towards individuals in the vicinity of the imaging procedure.

Additionally, optimizing equipment settings entails adjusting the imaging parameters, such as exposure time, radiation dose, and the type of imaging modality being used. Modern imaging technologies often come with features that allow radiologists to tailor these settings to the specific requirements of each procedure, ensuring that the minimum necessary dose of radiation is used to obtain high-quality images.

By employing both shielding strategies and equipment optimization, the overall exposure to radiation is significantly reduced, which is in line with the ALARA principle (As Low As Reasonably Achievable), a core concept in radiation safety.

The other options do not effectively minimize exposure. Increasing distance is beneficial to some extent but is not always feasible in clinical settings. Using more contrast agents does not relate to radiation exposure and may not enhance safety

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