Which of the following statements about mAs is correct when higher kilovoltage peak is used?

When utilizing a higher kilovoltage peak (kVp) in radiographic procedures, the statement that mAs can be safely reduced is correct. This is due to the fact that increasing kVp enhances the energy of the x-rays produced, which allows for improved penetration through the tissue. With higher energy x-rays, there is less absorption occurring, meaning that the overall quantity of x-ray photons needed to achieve the desired image quality can be decreased.

In this context, mAs, which stands for milliampere-seconds, refers to the total quantity of radiation produced during an exposure. When kVp is increased, the efficiency of x-ray production improves, permitting a reduction in mAs without compromising image quality. This is particularly advantageous as it can contribute to lowering patient radiation dose.

Other options, such as the necessity to always increase mAs or the idea that it has no effect on exposure or relevance to image quality, do not accurately reflect the relationship between kVp and mAs. Therefore, recognizing that higher kVp allows for a reduction in mAs helps in understanding how to effectively manage exposure and optimize image quality.