Leakage radiation refers to radiation that...

• A. Escapes from the tube housing
• B. Is the primary beam
• C. Is produced by the patient
• D. Is the same as scatter

Answer: (A)

Leakage radiation is radiation that escapes from the X-ray tube housing, outside of the intended useful beam. It comes from the equipment itself and is kept to a minimum by shielding and design of the tube housing. This is different from the primary beam, which is the useful X-ray beam aimed at the patient to create the image, and it’s also different from scatter, which is radiation that results when the primary beam interacts with the patient or other materials and is redirected in various directions. The concept emphasizes that leakage is about unwanted radiation leaking out of the machine, not about radiation produced by the patient or the scattered radiation after interaction.