CAMRT Radiography Practice Exam

What is the appropriate action to improve the quality of a poorly contrasted radiograph?

1. Increase the exposure time

2. Adjust the mAs without changing kV

3. Use a higher grid ratio

4. Change the CR alignment

The correct answer is: Adjust the mAs without changing kV

Improving the quality of a poorly contrasted radiograph often involves modifying the exposure parameters to enhance the image clarity and contrast. Adjusting the milliampere-seconds (mAs) while keeping the kilovolt peak (kV) constant is an effective way to increase the overall exposure of the film or digital receptor. When mAs is increased, it results in more photons reaching the imaging receptor, which can enhance the density of the resulting image. This, in turn, can lead to improved contrast by making the structures of interest, such as bones vs. soft tissues, more distinguishable. The advantage of this method is that it can specifically target the problem of low contrast while maintaining the current energy level provided by the kV, which can help avoid excessive radiation and the risk of overexposure. Increasing the exposure time alone may not effectively resolve the contrast issue, as it can lead to overly dark images without necessarily addressing other contributing factors like the inherent contrast of the tissue being imaged. A higher grid ratio can help improve image contrast by reducing scatter radiation, but this is not always necessary or applicable depending on the initial imaging conditions. Changing the alignment of the central ray (CR) can affect the overall quality of the image but primarily helps