In relation to patient exposure, what is a key effect of increasing the kilovoltage peak (kVp)?

Increasing the kilovoltage peak (kVp) primarily affects the quality and quantity of the X-ray beam produced. When kVp is increased, the energy of the X-ray photons is also increased. This higher energy allows the X-rays to penetrate tissues more effectively, which in turn results in increased receptor exposure. The receptor, whether it be film or digital, receives more radiation, enhancing the overall image density.

Additionally, higher kVp settings enable a reduction in the amount of scatter radiation due to improved penetration. This can lead to more useful information being captured in the image, aiding in the diagnostic process.

In contrast, changes in exposure time and patient dose are generally influenced by adjustments in milliamperage (mA) or exposure times, rather than kVp alone. Increasing kVp does not inherently increase patient dose, as higher energy photons can potentially result in a more efficient exposure of the receptor. As for contrast, raising kVp usually decreases contrast because of the increased likelihood of low-energy photons passing through denser tissues, resulting in more uniform exposure across different tissues. Therefore, the increase in receptor exposure connects directly to an increase in kVp, making this the correct choice.