The thyroid is a butterfly-shaped endocrine gland located at the base of the neck, just above the collarbone, and it is responsible for releasing thyroxine or tetraiodothyronine (T4) and triiodothyronine (T3) hormones that regulate the rate of many activities of the body such as how fast the heart beats or how quickly calories are burning.

Regarding radiation exposure, the thyroid is the most radiation-sensitive organ in the body. Data reveals many patients with papillary thyroid cancer due to increased exposure to medical radiation in the neck region during diagnostics or therapeutics for both the patients and the operators. Considering this, a thyroid shield/collar has been included as an essential component of radiation protective gear.

A thyroid shield is designed to cover and protect thyroid glands and is kept safe and protected from harmful radiation exposure. Commonly, it is used in medical applications like CT scans, X-ray imaging, Dental X-rays, and Fluoroscopy. Not all medical work that uses radiation requires medical personnel to wear a thyroid shield. When deciding to wear thyroid shields, the individual must keep ALARA (As-Low-As-Reasonably-Achievable) principles in mind. ALARA principles focus on three factors: the time/duration of exposure if working around the radiation source, the distance between the radiation source and the exposed person, and if the shielding equipment is appropriate to provide thyroid radiation protection.

How to check if a thyroid shield is protecting you?

Following points to be taken care of while selecting a thyroid shield or collar and confirming the complete protection offered by a thyroid shield:

Protective Material Used: A thyroid shield comprises either lead or non-lead material. The latest lead thyroid collar is latex-free and provides standard radiation protection of 0.5mm Pb Equivalent.

Designing of the thyroid shield: Many existing thyroid shields are available in the market with possible risks associated with their fit. For instance, the visor-style thyroid collar most commonly used in Lab suites and Operation theaters is manufactured with holes in the protective material caused by stitching. Stitch holes are necessary while designing the shield to hold the material pieces together. However, the radiation can penetrate directly through it and pass across the thyroid gland, harming it. By looking at alternatives to this design, the person can minimize risks.

The way the thyroid shield must be worn: A perfectly-fitted thyroid shield in America must be used to ensure that the entire thyroid area is well-protected. Some of the available thyroid shield design styles are meant to be loosely worn, while some are recommended to be worn close to the neck. When purchasing a thyroid shield, try wearing it loosely or tightly and check which way is more comfortable. The loose-fitting shields are designed to protect the thyroid and even allow easy head movements.

Some quality thyroid shields worth choosing from:

Thyroid Shield Elegant

Kennedy Radiology’s wide range of thyroid shields provides complete protection to the neck and sternum from ionizing radiation. It provides reliable coverage and is considered a great choice for thyroid protection. It is designed with an adjustable fastener and Velcro closure and has a lead equivalence of 0.50mm Pb or 0.35mm Pb.

Thyroid Shield Harmony

It is a popular new collar design that perfectly fits the thyroid gland. It offers wide coverage and one size fits all. The lead equivalence is 0.50mm Pb or 0.35mm Pb.

Kennedy Radiology, leading provider of best radiation protection products in America offers the range of radiation protection products like Ovarian Shield X ray or Ovarian Shield with Buckle, Thyroid Shield Collar or Lead Thyroid Guard, Lead Gown for Protection, Radiation Protection Head Shield, Flexback Apron,and Gonad Lead Shield.

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Importance of Thyroid Shield in Radiation Protection

Importance of Thyroid Shield in Radiation Protection