[Medical Q&A] Will radiation from the radiology examination room leak out?

Planner: Chinese Medical Association

Reviewer: Wang Xuan, deputy chief physician, Peking Union Medical College Hospital

The issue of radiation protection was fully considered at the beginning of the design of the radiology examination room. In order to ensure the safety of patients, professional protective materials are used for the walls, ceilings and floors of the examination rooms. For example, the walls of the X-ray room and the CT room are usually coated with professional composite protective materials such as barium sand, and the ceilings and floors are made of concrete at least 15 to 20 cm thick. In addition, the doors of the examination rooms are also specially designed. These doors also have good radiation protection performance and are generally inlaid with lead plates or other equivalent protective structures. When working in the examination room, the door will be closed to form a relatively closed space to further prevent radiation leakage. Moreover, the gaps between the door and the door frame have been carefully processed to ensure that no radiation can "drill" out from these subtle places.

The hospital also regularly tests the radiation protection of the radiology examination room to ensure that the environment of the entire imaging department meets national standards and safety guidelines. These tests cover multiple aspects such as the measurement of radiation doses and the evaluation of protective measures, aiming to promptly detect and eliminate potential radiation leakage risks. Therefore, under normal circumstances, the radiation in the examination room will not leak into areas outside the examination room such as corridors and hallways.

Of course, although the risk of radiation leakage outside the radiology examination room is extremely low, we still need to remain vigilant. For people who are sensitive to radiation, such as pregnant women and children, it is recommended to avoid staying in the environment outside the radiology examination room for a long time. In addition, people who are sensitive to radiation should try to avoid unnecessary radiological examinations. If an examination is really necessary, the doctor should be informed of his or her physical condition in advance so that the doctor can take a more cautious and safe examination plan.