What is one potential consequence of using insufficient kVp in X-ray imaging?

Using insufficient kilovolt peak (kVp) in X-ray imaging can lead to increased patient exposure. When the kVp is set too low, the X-ray beam does not have enough energy to penetrate the tissues adequately. As a result, the exposure time may need to be increased to obtain a diagnostic-quality image, which in turn means that the patient is exposed to higher amounts of radiation.

With higher exposure times, there’s a greater risk of unnecessary radiation dose to the patient while also potentially increasing the chances of motion artifacts in the image due to the longer duration of the exposure. Additionally, inadequate penetration can lead to poor image quality, as tissues may not be adequately radiated, further necessitating increased exposure times. This highlights the importance of selecting an appropriate kVp setting for effective imaging while minimizing radiation risk.