For NCRP 102, what is the rule of thumb for total filtration in fluoroscopy?

For fluoroscopy, the National Council on Radiation Protection and Measurements (NCRP) guidance emphasizes the importance of adequate filtration to reduce the patient dose from secondary radiation while allowing sufficient primary radiation for imaging. The rule of thumb for total filtration is aimed at ensuring that the x-ray beam is adequately filtered to minimize low-energy photons, which contribute little to image formation and primarily increase the radiation dose to the patient without improving image quality.

The standard recommendation is to have total filtration in fluoroscopy greater than 2.5 mm of aluminum equivalent. This level of filtration effectively attenuates the low-energy x-rays that do not contribute significantly to the diagnostic value but increase the patient dose through unnecessary exposure. Adequate filtration is crucial in optimizing the balance between image quality and radiation safety during fluoroscopic procedures.

Overall, understanding the filtration requirements is essential for radiographers and technologists to implement best practices in patient safety and radiation protection during fluoroscopy.