Which of the following are recommended methods of reducing radiation dose to the breasts during scoliosis examinations?

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

Answer: (B)

Reducing breast dose during scoliosis imaging comes from imaging geometry and technique that minimize exposure to breast tissue while keeping image quality. Using a PA view positions the breasts farther from the primary beam, reducing the dose they receive. Pairing that with a dose‑efficient technique—tight collimation to limit the irradiated area and an exposure setup that uses the highest possible kVp with the lowest practical mA to maintain image quality—further lowers breast exposure. Shielding the breasts, though common in the past, can obscure anatomy and interfere with modern detector systems, potentially requiring repeats and not reliably reducing dose. So combining a PA projection with optimized imaging technique provides the best dose reduction.