Compared with low kVp techniques, high kVp techniques produce what effect on patient exposure?

Compared with low kVp techniques, high kVp techniques produce what effect on patient exposure?

• A. Higher exposure
• B. No change
• C. Less exposure
• D. Increased patient dose

Answer: (C)

Raising kVp makes the X-ray beam more penetrating, so you can achieve the same receptor exposure with fewer photons. By using a higher kVp, you typically lower the mA or mAs needed to obtain the same image brightness, and since patient dose is tied to the number of photons produced (mAs) and their energy deposition, reducing mAs lowers the radiation dose to the patient. This often means less exposure to the patient overall, though you trade some contrast for that dose reduction.

Raising kVp makes the X-ray beam more penetrating, so you can achieve the same receptor exposure with fewer photons. By using a higher kVp, you typically lower the mA or mAs needed to obtain the same image brightness, and since patient dose is tied to the number of photons produced (mAs) and their energy deposition, reducing mAs lowers the radiation dose to the patient. This often means less exposure to the patient overall, though you trade some contrast for that dose reduction.