What is the role of collimation in minimizing patient radiation exposure?

Collimation is essential in radiography as it involves the use of a device that narrows the beam of radiation to focus on the specific area of interest. This targeted approach minimizes the amount of scatter radiation that a patient is exposed to, as well as reducing the radiation that might otherwise contribute to areas surrounding the intended field. By confining the beam to just the area needing imaging, collimation enhances the quality of the image while ensuring that unnecessary radiation exposure to the patient is kept to a minimum. This practice is fundamental in radiological procedures to promote patient safety.