Which fluoroscopic kilovolts peak (kVp) factor is most appropriate for optimal patient radiation protection?

• A. 60 - 70 kVp.
• B. 80 - 90 kVp.
• C. 70 - 80 kVp.
• D. 100 - 110 kVp.

Answer: (D)

Higher kilovoltage peak during fluoroscopy generally lowers patient radiation dose because it allows the image to be produced with lower exposure (mA and/or shorter time) while still achieving adequate brightness. As kVp increases, beam energy rises, so you can use a lower dose to reach the same receptor signal. This comes with less contrast, but modern systems and processing help preserve diagnostic usefulness, making higher kVp a key dose-saving strategy.

Among the options, the highest kVp range—100 to 110 kVp—offers the greatest potential for protection because it uses the most penetrating beam, enabling lower exposure settings overall. Lower kVp ranges would require higher mA or longer exposure to achieve the same image brightness, increasing the patient dose.