What is the purpose of beam limiting diaphragms?

The purpose of beam limiting diaphragms is primarily to reduce radiation exposure to surrounding tissues by restricting the size of the treatment beam to the area being irradiated. By doing this, they help to protect healthy tissues adjacent to the treatment area, which is crucial in minimizing potential side effects and ensuring that the maximum dose is delivered to the tumor or target area.

While a larger field of view can aid in target localization, the primary function of beam limiting diaphragms is to ensure that the radiation fields are as precise as possible, thus contributing to both the efficacy and safety of radiation therapy. The need to narrow the beam effectively outweighs the advantages of increasing the field of view for localization. Other options, such as stabilizing patient position or enhancing image quality, are not the main roles of beam limiting diaphragms; they serve a different purpose in the treatment process.