Which of the following is a consequence of increasing kilovoltage peak (kVp) without changing other factors?

Increasing kilovoltage peak (kVp) primarily affects the penetrating ability of the X-ray beam. As kVp is increased, the energy of the X-ray photons also increases, allowing them to penetrate tissues more effectively. This increased penetration reduces the differences in tissue density that contribute to image contrast.

When kVp is higher, the resultant image has a broader range of gray levels, which translates to a decrease in overall image contrast. While high contrast is typically preferred for many radiographic images, particularly in scenarios where clear distinctions between various tissues are necessary, a higher kVp introduces more X-rays that can pass through both denser and less dense structures alike. Consequently, the resultant images may appear more uniformly gray, making it difficult to differentiate between adjacent tissue types.

In contrast, increasing kVp does not inherently lead to an increase in patient dose, as a greater number of X-ray photons are produced when the kVp is raised, allowing for potentially lower mA (milliamperes) settings without compromising the image quality. Similarly, the risk of motion artifact and reduction in image sharpness are not directly tied to kVp changes, but rather relate more closely to exposure times and patient cooperation during imaging. Thus, the observation of reduced contrast directly correl