Answer to Question #12977 Submitted to "Ask the Experts"
Category: Medical and Dental Equipment/Shielding — Lead Aprons
The following question was answered by an expert in the appropriate field:
I just had x rays done for my cervical spine (two views), thoracic, and lumbar spine (AP + Lateral). The technologist taking the x rays did not put a lead apron on my lower half for the majority of the x rays until he pointed the machine upward for some images. He said "we didn't use this before, but we are going to use it now" as he wrapped the half apron around my waist to cover my groin and back area. For these x rays, did he follow the right procedure? Should the apron not have been used the entire time? Am I at risk now? I am a 37-year-old male. These x rays were done for a chiropractor. I did not question where or why the apron was not used the entire time but after he put it on, I found it odd that it wasn't used the entire time since my lower half was not part of the x-ray images needed.
State regulations typically require a lead shield for the patient to protect the reproductive organs when they are in the primary x-ray beam, except when it interferes with the radiologic image (see the Ohio rule for illustration). Except for that requirement, lead aprons have usually been placed over the patient's reproductive organs based on recommendation, and that is usually only done when taking x rays in the areas near the reproductive organs. It is likely that the technologist shielded the reproductive organs when performing x rays of the lumbar spine (lower part of your back) and not for the cervical spine (neck area) or the thoracic spine (chest area). Since the x-ray area for those procedures is defined farther away from the reproductive organs, there is little or no need to shield the reproductive organs.
Just recently, there have been peer-reviewed journal articles and professional society recommendations that indicate that patient shielding is not needed, is not beneficial, and should be discontinued.
It is likely that the facility that performed your x rays followed their usual procedures, if they were shielding you for the views that were taken closest to your reproductive organs. As long as they were using appropriate technique factors (x-ray beam settings), properly collimating (setting the size of the x-ray field only to that area that needed to be x rayed), and only taking images that were medically necessary, then the risk to you and your reproductive organs is low, and is outweighed by the benefit of the images obtained.
Kennith "Duke" Lovins, CHP