Which of the following accessories always DECREASE pat RAD dose when used properly?

• A. Grid
• B. Gonad shields
• C. Xray tube
• D. all of the above

Answer: (B)

Gonad shielding reduces radiation dose to reproductive organs by absorbing part of the beam before it reaches them. When placed correctly—directly over the gonads, in contact with the skin, and not covering any area essential for diagnosis—it lowers the absorbed dose without compromising the diagnostic information. This is why, when used properly, shielding reliably decreases dose to the gonads.

Grids, while they improve image contrast by absorbing scattered photons, require higher exposure factors to maintain receptor exposure, which often increases the patient’s dose rather than decreases it. The X-ray tube is the radiation source, not a shielding accessory, so it doesn’t serve to reduce dose. Therefore, shielding is the accessory that best fits the requirement of always decreasing dose when used properly.