What might excessive scatter radiation cause when using AEC?

Excessive scatter radiation can lead to image underexposure when using Automatic Exposure Control (AEC) systems. AEC relies on accurately measuring the radiation reaching the detector to determine when to terminate exposure. When there is an increase in scatter radiation, it may lead the AEC to perceive that the appropriate exposure has been reached sooner than it actually has. This premature termination of the exposure can result in an underexposed image, which lacks sufficient density and detail.

While it might seem that excessive scatter could also lead to overexposure due to increased radiation, AEC is designed to counteract that by measuring the actual exposure received. Thus, while scatter affects the perception of exposure and can create confusion in terms of image quality, it predominantly results in underexposure. Therefore, when evaluating the consequences of excessive scatter during AEC usage, the primary outcome is an underexposed image.