X-ray Attenuation (Contrast Enhancement)

X-ray attenuation refers to the reduction in intensity of X-ray beams as they pass through matter, enabling contrast in radiographic and computed tomography (CT) imaging. Contrast enhancement exploits differences in attenuation between tissues or between tissues and administered contrast agents, allowing for improved visualization of anatomical structures or pathological changes. It is not a target in the traditional sense but a physical property used in medical imaging.

Other names

X-ray absorptionRadiographic contrastCT contrast

Increased photoelectric effect at K-edge of contrast agents; differential absorption of X-rays based on tissue density and atomic number.