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Description
Purpose
To evaluate the feasibility of utilizing a lead curtain to reduce scatter radiation in the control console area, ensuring compliance with regulatory dose limits while maintaining clinical workflow efficiency in general radiography.
Methods and Materials
A lead curtain (0.5-mm Pb equivalence, 800 mm × 2000 mm) was installed at the entrance separating the X-ray examination room and the control console. To simulate clinical scattering conditions, the detector was covered with a 0.5-mm lead apron as the primary scattering source. Exposure parameters (85 kVp, 500 mA, 200 ms) were set to simulate abdominal AP (KUB) examinations in both erect and recumbent positions. Scatter dose rates were measured at 36 locations within the control area using a calibrated X-ray/gamma survey meter (ATOMTEX AT1121). Scattered radiation maps were generated to compare the spatial dose distributions with and without the lead curtain.
Results
The recumbent projection yielded significantly higher scatter doses than the erect projection. Without the lead curtain, the peak scatter dose rates were 263.67 µSv/hr for erect and 1016.67 µSv/hr for recumbent projections. Upon installation of the lead curtain, these values decreased to 1.33 µSv/hr and 7.10 µSv/hr, respectively. Dose reduction rates ranged from 65.7%–99.6% for erect and 78.1%–99.6% for recumbent positions. With the curtain in place, all measured points remained below the Taiwanese regulatory limit for controlled areas (10 µSv/hr), and several locations met the uncontrolled area limit (0.5 µSv/hr).
Conclusion
The implementation of a lead curtain significantly reduced scatter radiation in the control area, ensuring regulatory compliance while improving the ergonomic workflow for radiographers during routine clinical operations.