What is the effect of increasing the peak kilovoltage on the x-ray beam?

Increasing the peak kilovoltage (kVp) in an x-ray beam has several important effects, all of which contribute to the efficiency and safety of x-ray imaging.

When the kVp is increased, the penetrating power of the x-ray beam also increases. Higher energy photons generated at increased kVp can pass through denser tissues more effectively, leading to improved image quality and better visualization of structures within the body. This is particularly crucial for differentiating between various types of tissues and can reduce the need for additional imaging.

Additionally, a higher kVp can lead to reduced patient skin exposure. This occurs because the increased penetrating power means that the x-ray photons are less likely to be completely absorbed by superficial tissues, allowing more photons to reach the film or detector with lower doses provided to the skin. Consequently, the patient is exposed to a lesser amount of potentially harmful radiation during the procedure.

Moreover, the use of higher kVp allows for the use of lower tube current (measured in milliamperes, or mA). Lower tube current reduces the overall radiation dose delivered to the patient while still maintaining image quality. This is because the higher energy of the x-rays produced at increased kVp compensates for the reduced number of photons generated by the