As one of the most common radiological examination techniques, chest X-rays (CXR) are of great relevance in diagnostic radiology. The European Commission prescribes minimum diagnostic criteria for these images, which also describe the structures to be imaged. In order to avoid exposing too much patient tissue to electromagnetic radiation, the X-rays are collimated in everyday clinical practice so that they only hit as small an area of the patient as possible. This collimation is carried out manually via a projected light field on the patient's back. However, some of the structures to be imaged are not visible from the outside and must therefore be estimated.

Based on the criteria of the European Commission, we assessed the overexposure of conventional chest X-rays to demonstrate the potential for radiation dose reduction.