X-ray examinations are safe even without radiation shields

Patients’ radiation doses in X-ray examinations have decreased in recent decades. The equipment has evolved and the amount of radiation required to form a diagnostic image continues to decrease. At the same time, understanding regarding the effects and risks of radiation has also increased. As a result, it is known that the additional benefit of radiation shields for patients remains negligible in most studies.

Today, protecting patients from unnecessary radiation doses occurs as competent personnel precisely limit the area to be scanned, use the radiation dose automation of modern imaging equipment, select the right imaging directions, and prepare the patient for the imaging.

In addition to the use of traditional radiation shields not being useful, using them can sometimes even be counterproductive. When taking an X-ray, the radiation only scatters very close to the area being scanned. If any benefit is to be gained from the shield, it must be positioned very close to the target area, in which case it may interfere with the imaging. Then, when the produced image does not provide the necessary information, the imaging must be carried out again.

Guidelines of the recent recommendation are already being complied with in many imaging units in Finland.  However, the new guidelines differ from practices that employees and even patients may have become accustomed to. For this reason, the recommendation states that, in some individual cases, the use of protective shields may be justified from the point of view of the efficiency of the examination, if its use increases the patient's sense of safety but does not jeopardize the success of the examination.