The principal function of x ray beam filtration is to (A) reduce operator dose(B) reduce patient skin dose(C) reduce image noise(D) reduce scattered radiation
B
The correct answer is (B) reduce patient skin dose.
X-ray beam filtration involves placing certain materials in the path of the X-ray beam. The purpose of this is to remove lower energy photons from the beam that are more likely to be absorbed by the patient’s skin and contribute to skin dose. By removing these photons, the overall skin dose to the patient is reduced.
Filtration does not typically have a significant impact on operator dose, as the operator is typically standing behind a lead shield during the imaging process. Similarly, while filtration can indirectly help to reduce image noise, this is not the primary function of the filtration process. Finally, while filtration can also help to reduce scattered radiation, this is not the primary purpose of the filtration process either.