Where are contact shields placed?

• A. Directly on patient.
• B. Suspended over region of interest.
• C. On the ceiling.
• D. On the door.

Answer: (A)

Contact shields are meant to be in direct contact with the patient to attenuate the beam right at the skin surface over the area you want to protect. Placing the shield directly on the patient ensures maximal reduction of dose to radiosensitive tissues while preserving image quality, since there are no air gaps that could allow scatter or misalignment. Shields that are suspended above the region or mounted on the ceiling or door are fixed room protections, not designed to shield a specific area during the exposure. Therefore, the shield should be placed directly on the patient.