Larger body areas or larger patients require __________ kVp settings?

In Positron Emission Tomography (PET) imaging, larger body areas or larger patients necessitate higher kilovolt peak (kVp) settings to ensure optimal image quality. The kVp setting is crucial as it affects the penetration power of the X-rays produced during the imaging process. Higher kVp values increase the energy of the X-rays, allowing them to penetrate thicker or denser tissues and create clearer images.

When imaging larger patients or larger body areas, increased penetration is required to overcome the attenuation of X-rays by tissue. If the kVp is too low, the resulting images may be underexposed or difficult to interpret due to poor contrast. Therefore, setting the kVp higher improves the chances of acquiring diagnostic-quality images even in challenging circumstances associated with larger patients. This principle is fundamental in radiation physics and imaging techniques, ensuring that high-quality diagnostic images can be obtained regardless of the patient's size.