What is the purpose of a wedge filter in radiation therapy?

The purpose of a wedge filter in radiation therapy is to compensate for thick and thin areas of the patient’s anatomy, ensuring that the dose of radiation is distributed more evenly across the treatment area. This is particularly important in cases where there are significant variations in tissue thickness or density, such as when treating tumors that are located near bony structures or within varying depths of soft tissue.

Wedge filters are specifically designed to absorb different amounts of radiation based on the thickness of the tissue they cover. Thus, when positioned correctly, they allow for the delivery of a uniform radiation dose to both thin and thick areas, improving treatment effectiveness while minimizing damage to surrounding healthy tissues.

In contrast, other options do not accurately describe the primary function of a wedge filter. For instance, enhancing image resolution relates more to imaging techniques than to radiation therapy delivery. Equalizing thickness in exposed areas is a less precise description of the filter's function, as it specifically caters to varying thickness. Shading the edges of the beam also does not encompass the role of a wedge filter, which focuses on compensating for tissue density variations rather than merely altering beam shape or shadowing.