Under which conditions must gonads be shielded?

• A. 1 and 2
• B. 1 and 3
• C. 2 and 3
• D. 1, 2, and 3

Answer: (D)

The important idea is that gonadal shielding is used to reduce radiation dose to the reproductive organs whenever they could be exposed by the exam and shielding won't compromise the needed image.

Three situations make shielding the best practice: when the patient is a child or adolescent, because their lifetime radiation risk and potential hereditary impact are higher; when the patient is an adult with reproductive potential, to protect future fertility and minimize hereditary risk; and when a female patient of childbearing potential cannot be ruled out as pregnant, since shielding the gonads helps minimize any potential fetal dose if pregnancy is possible. In each case, shielding provides dose reduction to the gonads without hindering the diagnostic information being sought, provided it can be placed without obscuring the area of interest.