Why is it important to adjust exposure factors based on patient size?

Adjusting exposure factors based on patient size is crucial for ensuring adequate penetration and image quality. Different body sizes and compositions impact how X-rays pass through tissues. For larger patients, more radiation may be needed to penetrate dense tissues adequately, allowing for clear imaging, while smaller patients require less radiation to avoid overexposure.

When exposure factors such as kilovoltage (kVp) and milliampere-seconds (mAs) are tailored to the patient's size, the resulting images will have the necessary contrast and detail for accurate diagnosis. This adjustment helps to balance the need for quality imaging with the imperative to minimize radiation exposure, enhancing patient safety while ensuring effective medical evaluation.