What could be a consequence of not utilizing ABC properly during fluoroscopy?

Not utilizing Automatic Brightness Control (ABC) properly during fluoroscopy can lead to increased radiation exposure for the patient. ABC is designed to optimize image quality while minimizing radiation dose by automatically adjusting the exposure factors based on the conditions of the examination. If ABC is not functioning as intended or is not used correctly, the system may not adjust the exposure sufficiently, leading to the use of higher radiation doses than necessary to achieve adequate image quality. As a consequence, the patient could receive an unnecessary increase in radiation exposure, which can elevate risks associated with radiation, such as tissue damage or increased cancer risk over time. Keeping radiation exposure to a minimum while still obtaining diagnostic-quality images is a critical aspect of patient safety in fluoroscopic procedures.