Final answer:
An increase in mAs or kVp is necessary to produce clear diagnostic images for patients with pathological conditions that increase tissue density, such as pneumonia or osteoarthritis.
Step-by-step explanation:
A pathological condition that would require an increase in milliampere-seconds (mAs) or kilovoltage peak (kVp) to maintain an acceptable receptor exposure is one where a greater degree of tissue density is present. This could be due to the presence of diseases that cause tissue to harden or thicken, such as pneumonia in the lungs or osteoarthritis in bones, requiring more radiation to pass through and produce a clear image. Adjustments to mAs or kVp are necessary to ensure that diagnostic images are of sufficient quality to reveal detailed structure and pathology without having a release of radiation that could lead to poor quality images or an unnecessary increase in patient dose.