What term describes exposure values arising from excessive kilovoltage or insufficient collimation?

The term that describes exposure values arising from excessive kilovoltage or insufficient collimation is fog. In radiography, fog refers to unintended exposure on the image that results in a lack of contrast, making it difficult to distinguish between anatomical structures. Excessive kilovoltage leads to a higher energy level in the X-ray beam, which can penetrate tissues more easily, causing an increase in overall exposure. Insufficient collimation, which refers to not properly limiting the primary X-ray beam to the area of interest, can result in unnecessary exposure to surrounding tissues, leading to a foggy appearance on the radiographic image.

This phenomenon is critical in radiographic imaging as it can significantly compromise the quality of the diagnostic image. Reducing fog increases image contrast and clarity, enabling better visual discernment of important anatomical features. Other options presented relate to different concepts; for instance, matrix refers to the grid of pixels that form the digital image, artifact signifies any distortion or anomaly in the imaging, and resolution pertains to the detail present in the image, affecting clarity and sharpness, but none of these accurately describe the issue caused by excessive kilovoltage or poor collimation as effectively as fog does.