What effect does increasing filtration have on the x-ray beam?

What effect does increasing filtration have on the x-ray beam?

• A. Hardens the beam.
• B. Increases beam intensity.
• C. Increases low-energy photon content.
• D. Increases patient skin dose.

Answer: (A)

Filtration hardens the beam by removing the soft, low-energy photons from the spectrum. The filtering material absorbs these low-energy photons more readily than higher-energy ones, so the average energy of the beam increases. This shift toward higher-energy photons improves penetration and image quality, while also reducing the dose to the patient because the low-energy photons—those that mostly deposit energy in superficial tissues—are being filtered out. Filtration does not increase beam intensity; it reduces photon flux slightly due to absorption. It also does not increase low-energy content or patient skin dose; it actually decreases both.

Filtration hardens the beam by removing the soft, low-energy photons from the spectrum. The filtering material absorbs these low-energy photons more readily than higher-energy ones, so the average energy of the beam increases. This shift toward higher-energy photons improves penetration and image quality, while also reducing the dose to the patient because the low-energy photons—those that mostly deposit energy in superficial tissues—are being filtered out. Filtration does not increase beam intensity; it reduces photon flux slightly due to absorption. It also does not increase low-energy content or patient skin dose; it actually decreases both.