What is a common cause of quantum mottle in a digital imaging system?

Quantum mottle, also known as quantum noise, refers to the grainy appearance in digital images due to insufficient x-ray photons reaching the detector. A primary cause of quantum mottle in digital imaging systems is low mAs settings. When the milliampere-seconds (mAs) is set low, there is a reduced number of x-ray photons produced, which can result in a noisy image that lacks sufficient statistical sampling of the incoming x-rays. This statistical fluctuation in the number of photons detected leads to the mottled appearance since the digital detector receives inconsistent amounts of radiation, making it difficult to create a smooth, clear image.

When mAs settings are low, it significantly impacts the quality of the image, especially in areas where density is crucial. Increasing the mAs helps improve the overall density of the image by providing a more consistent and ample number of photons, thus reducing the appearance of quantum mottle. Therefore, understanding the impact of mAs on image quality is essential in radiographic practices to minimize such artifacts.