What may be the consequence of insufficient milliampere-seconds (mAs) during an exposure in AEC?

Insufficient milliampere-seconds (mAs) during an exposure with Automatic Exposure Control (AEC) can lead to underexposure of the image. The mAs setting determines the amount of radiation that will strike the detector, and it is crucial for achieving an optimal level of image density.

In the context of AEC, if the mAs is too low, there won't be enough radiation exposure to generate a diagnostic-quality image, resulting in inadequate exposure of the receptor. This underexposure manifests as a dark image with poor visibility of anatomic details, making it more difficult for radiologists to interpret the findings accurately.

In contrast, too high of a mAs setting can lead to overexposure, while adjustments to mAs generally do not directly increase image sharpness or decrease patient dose. Ensuring the right balance of mAs is essential for producing diagnostically useful images while also considering patient safety.