Final answer:
Increasing kVp by 15% in medical imaging leads to reduced patient dose and better tissue penetration, though it may result in less image contrast. Adjustments must balance image quality with patient safety.
Step-by-step explanation:
The benefits of increasing kVp (kilovolt peak) by 15% can be understood within the context of medical imaging, particularly in modalities such as X-ray and CT scans. Increasing kVp by 15% generally results in a reduction of patient dose while still achieving similar diagnostic image quality. This can be attributed to the fact that a higher kVp leads to X-rays with more energy, which are less likely to be absorbed by the body and more likely to pass through to the imaging receptor. Consequently, this requires a reduction in the quantity of X-rays (mAs - milliampere seconds) needed to obtain a diagnostic quality image, thus reducing patient exposure to radiation. Moreover, higher kVp images tend to have better penetration, leading to improved differentiation between tissues of slightly differing densities, although this can also result in less contrast between those tissues. It's essential to consider that the exact benefits can vary depending on the specific clinical scenario and the balancing of image quality with patient safety.