What is meant by Remnant Radiation?

Remnant radiation refers to the radiation that exits the patient and reaches the imaging receptor after it has interacted with the patient's body. During an imaging procedure, such as X-ray or CT scanning, some of the radiation is absorbed by the tissues, and some may be scattered. However, the remnant radiation is specifically the portion that successfully makes it through and contributes to the formation of the image on the receptor.

This concept is crucial in imaging because it directly affects the quality of the diagnostic information obtained. The more remnant radiation that effectively reaches the receptor, the clearer and more detailed the image will be. By understanding remnant radiation, technicians can also appreciate the balance necessary between sufficient exposure to obtain valuable diagnostic information and minimizing unnecessary radiation exposure to patients.