A technologist completes a knee exam without a grid. Without the use of a grid, the quality of the image will demonstrate decreased:

The quality of the image will demonstrate decreased contrast when a grid is not used during the knee exam. Grids are designed to absorb scatter radiation that occurs when the x-ray beam passes through the patient's body. This scatter radiation tends to fog the image and reduce the difference between the densities of various tissues, leading to a more homogenous and less defined image.

When contrast is diminished, it becomes difficult to differentiate between adjacent structures within the knee, such as different soft tissues, bones, and any potential abnormalities. High contrast is essential for effectively visualizing these details, particularly in complex areas like joints. Therefore, omitting a grid directly affects the contrast of the image, resulting in a less diagnostically useful outcome.

In comparison, while the absence of a grid may slightly impact receptor exposure by allowing more scatter to reach the image receptor, it is primarily the contrast that suffers the most. Noise and spatial resolution typically relate to factors like exposure levels, image processing, and the quality of imaging equipment, rather than being directly tied to the use of a grid.