American Registry of Radiologic Technologists (ARRT) Practice Exam

Increased tissue density or thickness tends to worsen contrast in radiographic images. This is primarily because as the density of the tissues increases, there is a greater attenuation of the X-ray beam. Greater attenuation means that there is less variation in the number of X-rays that reach the detector. When more of the X-ray photons are absorbed by denser structures, there is less differentiation between the various tissues imaged, resulting in a lower contrast image.

In diagnostic imaging, contrast is essential for distinguishing between different types of tissues, and thicker or denser areas obscure the ability to distinguish between them clearly. Thus, when tissues have increased density or thickness, it can lead to overall poorer quality images where the distinctions between different anatomical structures become less visible, confirming that contrast is indeed worsened.

Enhanced resolution generally refers to the ability to see fine details in an image; however, increased density can obscure these details. On the other hand, improved contrast would normally make it easier to differentiate between tissues, which is not the case here.