Which imaging requires you to wear a lead gown when imaging is taking place?

• A. Fluoroscopy and CT
• B. MRI
• C. Scintigraphy
• D. Ultrasound

Answer: (A)

Ionizing radiation safety is being tested. Lead gowns are worn to shield staff from the X-ray exposure produced during imaging. Fluoroscopy and CT use X-ray beams, often with significant and continuous exposure during the procedure, so wearing a lead gown is standard protective practice. MRI relies on magnetic fields and radiofrequency energy, not ionizing radiation, so a lead gown isn’t needed. Ultrasound uses sound waves and has no ionizing radiation, so no lead gown is required. Scintigraphy involves radioactive tracers, so protection focuses on handling the radiopharmaceuticals and minimizing exposure, but the imaging itself isn’t an X-ray procedure in the same way. Therefore, the imaging that requires a lead gown during the procedure is the X-ray–based ones—fluoroscopy and CT.