Which procedure is typically associated with the highest patient radiation dose?

The procedure that is typically associated with the highest patient radiation dose is the one involving the lumbar spine. This is primarily due to a few key factors.

First, the lumbar spine is a region that often requires larger exposure settings because of its size and density compared to other anatomical areas. This means that when imaging this part of the body, higher doses of radiation are necessary to produce quality diagnostic images.

Additionally, the lumbar spine contains several vertebrae and can often include imaging of surrounding structures that may require additional views or angles, thereby increasing the total dose. The anatomy of the lumbar region also necessitates deeper penetration of radiation, contributing further to the overall dose received.

In contrast, while thoracic spine and pelvis imaging also involves radiation, they typically utilize lower doses compared to lumbar spine imaging. The skull imaging, particularly in lateral views, usually involves much lower doses because the structures are closer to the surface and do not require as much penetration. Consequently, the lumbar spine procedure stands out as delivering the highest radiation dose among the options given.