What strategy should a radiologic technologist employ to minimize patient exposure during radiography?

Using high kilovoltage is a key strategy in minimizing patient radiation exposure during radiography for several reasons. High kilovoltage settings increase the energy of the X-rays, which leads to improved penetration through the body. This penetrative ability allows for the use of lower milliampere-seconds (mAs), effectively reducing the overall radiation dose to the patient while still attaining a diagnostic-quality image.

Moreover, higher kilovoltage results in a more efficient interaction of X-rays with the patient’s tissues, which minimizes the quantity of radiation that is absorbed by the body. As a result, less radiation is required to produce the necessary diagnostic information, thereby aligning with the principles of radiation safety, specifically the ALARA principle (As Low As Reasonably Achievable), ensuring that patient exposure is minimized without compromising image quality.

In contrast, using low kilovoltage may require higher mAs to achieve the desired image quality, resulting in greater radiation exposure for the patient. Similarly, reducing image receptor speed or increasing exposure time would also lead to higher doses of radiation received by the patient, contrary to the objective of minimizing exposure.