Why might manual over-ride of automatic collimators be necessary on children?

Manual override of automatic collimators may be necessary on children primarily to collimate to the area of interest only. When imaging pediatric patients, it's critical to minimize radiation exposure while ensuring that the area being examined is adequately covered. Automatic collimators may not always adjust optimally for the smaller anatomy of children, potentially including unnecessary areas in the field of view.

By manually overriding these devices, the radiologic technologist can customize the collimation to precisely match the area of interest, thereby ensuring that the radiation dose is minimized while maintaining image quality. This selective collimation is especially important for children, as their developing tissues are more sensitive to radiation.

Utilizing the entire image intensifier field or using shorter exposure times does not specifically address the unique anatomical considerations presented by pediatric patients. Therefore, focusing on the precise area of interest aligns better with the best practices for reducing radiation exposure in this vulnerable population.