What occurs to patient exposure when using a fluoroscopic magnification mode?

Using fluoroscopic magnification mode results in an increase in patient exposure while the image quality improves, thus ensuring that the diagnostic information remains clear. When magnification is employed, the effective area of the image intensifier is decreased. To maintain image brightness, higher radiation dose levels are required, which in turn leads to greater patient exposure.

In contrast to low magnification modes, where radiation levels and patient exposure may be lower, magnifying the image means that the X-ray beam has to penetrate more of the tissue to produce a clear and detailed image on the monitor, thus contributing to the significant rise in dose.

While the image quality gets enhanced through magnification—which benefits the visualization of fine details within the anatomy—the trade-off is an increased dose to the patient. The other scenarios presented focus on various combinations of increase and decrease, which do not accurately describe the relationship between fluoroscopic magnification and patient exposure.