A young female patient comes to radiology for a scoliosis study.The patient has had this series performed frequently.How much will the breast dose be decreased if a PA rather than an AP projection is taken?

Question

Quizplus · Accepted Answer

The breast dose can be decreased by up to 90% if a PA (posteroanterior) projection rather than an AP (anteroposterior) projection is taken during a scoliosis study. This is because the PA projection places the breast tissue further away from the primary x-ray source, significantly reducing radiation exposure to the sensitive breast tissue.

A Young Female Patient Comes to Radiology for a Scoliosis