Increasing beam filtration has which primary effect on the X-ray beam?

Increasing beam filtration has which primary effect on the X-ray beam?

• A. Increase in beam quantity
• B. Increase in X-ray quality
• C. Increase in patient dose
• D. Increase in image noise

Answer: (B)

Filtration removes the low-energy photons from the beam, so the remaining photons have a higher average energy. This hardening of the spectrum increases the beam’s penetrating ability, which is described as an increase in X-ray quality (beam quality goes up, HVL increases). As a consequence of removing those low-energy photons, the beam quantity actually decreases, and the dose dynamics change, but the primary effect on the beam itself is the improved quality.

Filtration removes the low-energy photons from the beam, so the remaining photons have a higher average energy. This hardening of the spectrum increases the beam’s penetrating ability, which is described as an increase in X-ray quality (beam quality goes up, HVL increases). As a consequence of removing those low-energy photons, the beam quantity actually decreases, and the dose dynamics change, but the primary effect on the beam itself is the improved quality.