ASRT Compliance Practice Test

Using a combination of higher kVp (kilovolt peak) and lower mAs (milliampere-seconds) is recognized as an effective way to significantly reduce patient dose in radiology. This approach increases the quality of the X-ray beam while decreasing the quantity of radiation exposure.

A higher kVp setting enhances the penetrating power of the X-ray beam, resulting in improved image quality and contrast. This allows for less mAs to be used during the exposure while still achieving adequate image density. With lower mAs, there's a corresponding reduction in the tube current and exposure time, which leads to decreased radiation dose to the patient.

In contrast, using higher mAs with lower kVp does not effectively reduce the dose; rather, it could increase radiation exposure due to prolonged exposure times and higher tube output. Keeping kVp and mAs equal does not capitalize on the benefits of optimizing exposure settings for better image quality at a reduced dose. Lastly, using lower kVp with higher mAs results in a less penetrating beam, requiring more radiation to achieve sufficient image quality, which consequently increases the patient's radiation exposure.

Therefore, the adjustment of using higher kVp and lower mAs is a validated method in radiology for minimizing patient dose while maintaining diagnostic