What is the relation between kilovoltage and the production of scattered radiation?

The relationship between kilovoltage (kV) and the production of scattered radiation is a significant aspect of understanding how radiation interacts with matter, particularly in medical imaging.

When kilovoltage is increased, the energy of the x-ray photons generated also increases. Higher energy photons are more penetrating and tend to interact less with the tissues in the body, leading to a reduction in the overall number of scatter events. The increased penetration means that photons are more likely to pass through tissue rather than be absorbed or scattered.

However, while high-energy photons may result in a lower proportion of scatter from the incident radiation, they can also interact with the atoms in the tissues in a way that produces scatter. This scattered radiation is typically of lower energy than the primary beam but still contributes to the overall radiation dose received by the patient and can affect image quality.

Thus, the correct understanding is that higher kilovoltage results in an increased proportion of scatter radiation because while more photons are transmitted through the body, the interaction with high-energy photons can still lead to scatter production. This is particularly relevant when discussing the quality of the images produced in radiographic procedures, as increased scatter can reduce contrast.