Under which conditions must gonads be shielded?

Gonadal shielding is a critical practice in radiography aimed at minimizing radiation exposure to sensitive reproductive organs. The choice indicating that all presented conditions must be met for gonad shielding is accurate, as each point addresses an essential consideration for proper shielding usage.

First, when the patient is of reproductive age, the risk of radiation exposure affecting future fertility or leading to genetic effects is particularly significant. Hence, extra precautions, such as using gonadal shields, are warranted under these circumstances.

Second, it's important that the shielding device does not compromise the quality of the examination or hinder the diagnostic process. If a shield interferes with the imaging or obtuse the area needed for a proper diagnosis, it should not be used, even if the other conditions for shielding are present.

Lastly, the requirement that the gonads lie within 5 cm of the primary beam is crucial because it identifies the proximity of the gonads to the radiation source. The closer the gonads are to the beam, the higher the potential for radiation exposure, thus justifying the necessity for shielding.

Therefore, all these factors work in conjunction to establish the guidelines for when gonads should be shielded, making the choice that encompasses all of them the correct one.