Which approach to increasing the signal may lead to an increase in scatter reaching the image receptor?

• A. Increasing mAs
• B. Increasing kVp
• C. Increasing Grid Ratio
• D. Increasing SID

Answer: (B)

Raising the beam energy (kVp) increases the energy of the photons, which makes Compton scattering more likely inside the patient. Those scatter photons travel in many directions and some reach the image receptor, adding to the signal while also degrading image contrast. So this approach can boost receptor exposure but also increases the scatter reaching the receptor.

Increasing mAs would raise the total number of photons and thus the signal, but the change is not primarily about increasing scatter via energy. Increasing grid ratio absorbs more scatter before it reaches the receptor, and increasing SID reduces scatter and primary exposure at the receptor due to the inverse-square effect.