What happens to the dose when the grid ratio increases?

When the grid ratio increases, the dose delivered to the patient typically increases. This is because a higher grid ratio means that the grid has a greater proportion of lead strips compared to the interspace material. As a result, the grid is more effective at reducing scatter radiation, which can obscure the image quality. To maintain image quality and compensate for the increased attenuation of useful radiation due to the higher ratio, the radiologic technologist often needs to increase the exposure to provide adequate image density.

Therefore, the increased dose is a direct result of the need to overcome the additional attenuation caused by the grid. It is crucial for professionals in radiology and fluoroscopy to understand this relationship, as it impacts patient safety and image quality in diagnostic imaging.