What is the primary effect of grid cut-off on image quality?

Grid cut-off primarily leads to underexposure of the image receptor. A grid is designed to improve image quality by reducing the amount of scatter radiation that reaches the film or digital detector, thereby enhancing image contrast. However, if the grid is misaligned or an incorrect grid is used, it can inadvertently block the primary x-ray beams. This results in portions of the image being underexposed because the primary radiation necessary to produce a diagnostic-quality image does not reach the receptor adequately.

The impact on image quality becomes evident as areas of the image may be darker or have insufficient density, hindering the visual interpretation of structures within the radiograph. Therefore, recognizing the influence of grid cut-off on exposure levels is crucial for quality imaging.