An increase in mAs has what effect on patient dose?

The relationship between mAs (milliampere-seconds) and patient dose is direct; increasing mAs increases the amount of radiation exposure the patient receives. The mAs value represents the product of the current (in milliamperes) and the time (in seconds) that the X-ray beam is on. In practical terms, a higher mAs means more photons are produced during the exposure, leading to greater penetration and a higher overall dose.

Increasing mAs is commonly used in imaging scenarios where better contrast or visibility of certain structures is needed, but it is essential to balance this with the potential risks of increased radiation exposure to the patient. In diagnostic radiology, understanding this relationship is crucial for maintaining radiation safety while achieving the needed image quality.

Other options imply a misunderstanding of how mAs affects dose. For instance, a reduction in dose or no change contradicts the basic principles of radiographic exposure, and saying that the effect varies with energy overlooks the consistent linear relationship between mAs and patient dose across various imaging scenarios.