When adjusting exposure factors for a pediatric lateral chest radiograph to minimize dose, which practice is recommended?

• A. Increase kVp
• B. Decrease mAs
• C. Increase mAs
• D. Increase mA

Answer: (B)

Reducing dose is achieved by using the smallest exposure that still gives a usable image. The factor that most directly lowers patient dose is mAs, so decreasing mAs reduces the amount of radiation the patient receives. In a pediatric lateral chest study, you aim for the lowest mAs that preserves diagnostic image quality; you can help maintain receptor exposure by adjusting kVp upward modestly, but be mindful that too high a kVp can lessen contrast. Increasing the exposure current or duration would raise dose, and increasing only kVp without considering image quality can risk insufficient contrast or a suboptimal image. So the best practice to minimize dose is to reduce the mAs.