American Society of Radiologic Technologist (ASRT) Practice Exam 2025 – All-in-One Guide for Exam Success!

Collimation plays a vital role in radiography, particularly in reducing patient dose. When the x-ray beam is precisely focused to the area of interest using collimation, it limits the size of the beam. This focused approach minimizes the amount of radiation exposure to surrounding tissues that are not necessary for the diagnostic process. By directing the radiation only to the specific area being examined, the risk of radiation-induced complications for the patient is reduced.

In addition to reducing the radiation dose, collimation can also enhance overall image quality by decreasing scatter radiation, but its primary function remains in protecting patient safety through dose reduction. Other options like improving image contrast or decreasing exposure time relate to different aspects of radiographic technique and are not direct roles of collimation.