What effect does higher milliampere-seconds (mAs) have on radiation dose to the patient?

Higher milliampere-seconds (mAs) results in an increase in radiation dose to the patient primarily because mAs refers to the product of the x-ray tube current (measured in milliamperes, mA) and the exposure time (measured in seconds). Essentially, increasing mAs means that more x-ray photons are being generated during the exposure, which directly correlates with a higher amount of radiation delivered to the patient's tissue.

As the number of x-ray photons increases, the likelihood of photon interactions with the patient's body also rises, leading to an increased radiation dose. This is a crucial consideration in radiography, as it is vital to balance the need for sufficient image quality with the goal of minimizing radiation exposure to ensure patient safety. Therefore, understanding the role of mAs in determining dosage is essential for making informed decisions regarding imaging procedures.

The increase in radiation dose is significant in clinical practice, as it necessitates careful monitoring and optimization to adhere to the principles of ALARA (As Low As Reasonably Achievable) in radiation safety protocols.