What technique is used to ensure that radiation does not enter the lung field?

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The key idea is to limit the X-ray beam to the breast tissue so that surrounding structures, like the lungs, are not exposed. Half-field geometry refers to shaping and directing the beam in a way that the primary field covers only the breast and stops at the chest wall, thereby excluding the lung area from the exposure. This explicit limitation of field size and geometry is the method that ensures radiation does not enter the lung field. While precise collimation and positioning are essential parts of this, the term describes the intentional beam geometry chosen to spare the lung. Breathing technique helps with motion but doesn’t control the field itself, and shielding isn’t the standard approach in mammography because it can obscure tissue and isn’t used to delineate field boundaries.