Which clothing item should be removed before radiographic procedures to minimize artifacts and exposure?

• A. Shoes
• B. Jewelry
• C. Clothing with metal closures such as underwire bras or snaps and zippers
• D. Hats

Answer: (C)

Metal in clothing interferes with X-ray imaging by creating artifacts and blocking or distorting the beam, which can obscure anatomy and often lead to a repeat image. Repeats mean additional radiation exposure for the patient. The clothing item to remove is clothing with metal closures such as underwire bras, snaps, and zippers, since these metal parts are most likely to appear in the imaging field. Shoes and hats typically aren’t in the imaging area, and jewelry is also removed, but the specific clothing item described is the one most directly linked to artifacts and dose reduction.