Question

A lateral radiograph of the lumbar spine was made using 200 mA, 1-second exposure, and 90 kV. If the exposure factors were changed to 200 mA, 0.5 second, and 104 kV, there would be an obvious change in which of the following?

Scale of radiographic contrast

Answer 1

Changing the exposure factors during a lumbar spine radiograph from 90 kV to 104 kV while maintaining 200 mA but halving the exposure time to 0.5 seconds will result in an obvious change in the scale of radiographic contrast, reducing it due to the higher energy beam.

Step-by-step explanation:

If a lateral radiograph of the lumbar spine is made with exposure factors changing from 200 mA, 1-second exposure, and 90 kV to 200 mA, 0.5 second, and 104 kV, there would be an obvious change in the scale of radiographic contrast. Increased kV leads to a higher energy x-ray beam which in turn, decreases the contrast of the radiographic image, making the shades of gray more subtle and difficult to discern. In contrast, a lowered kV would result in higher contrast with darker darks and lighter lights. However, with the exposure time being halved, this decrease in contrast might be less than expected because the overall exposure to the x-rays is reduced, potentially yielding a lighter image overall. This balance between kV and exposure time is crucial in obtaining a radiograph with optimal diagnostic quality.