What radiographic technique is recommended to minimize patient doses?

Using rectangular collimation is recommended to minimize patient doses during radiographic procedures. Rectangular collimation effectively restricts the X-ray beam to the size of the image receptor, which means that less tissue outside the area of interest is exposed to radiation. This localized exposure reduces radiation scatter and minimizes the overall dose to the patient.

In comparison, while the use of a circular PID can help focus the beam, it does not restrict exposure as effectively as rectangular collimation. High kVp settings can lower patient exposure by allowing the use of lower mA settings, but it also increases the energy of the X-rays produced, which might not be necessary in every situation. Increased exposure time would lead to a higher dose, which contradicts the goal of minimizing radiation exposure. Therefore, rectangular collimation stands out as the most effective method for dose reduction by focusing the beam only where it is needed.