What effect does using low kilovoltage have on patient dose?

Using low kilovoltage in imaging procedures typically results in increased patient dose. This is primarily due to the way low kilovoltage affects the penetration of x-rays through the body and the subsequent interactions that occur. When lower kilovoltage is employed, the x-rays produced have less energy and are less penetrating. As a result, a greater number of x-ray photons are necessary to achieve an adequate diagnostic image quality. This leads to higher exposure levels being required, consequently increasing the patient’s dose.

Additionally, the lower energy x-rays tend to be more likely to be absorbed by the tissues, which not only results in increased dose but can also affect the quality of the image. Therefore, while lower kilovoltage can enhance contrast in certain scenarios, it contributes to a heightened overall patient dose. Understanding the relationship between kilovoltage settings, image quality, and patient dose is vital for balancing the need for diagnostic accuracy with patient safety.