What distinguishes fluoroscopy tubes from radiography tubes?

Fluoroscopy tubes are indeed designed to operate at lower milliamperage (mA) compared to radiography tubes. This distinction is crucial because fluoroscopy is often used for procedures requiring continuous imaging, capturing dynamic motion within the body, such as during gastrointestinal studies or catheter placements. To achieve this continuous imaging without excessive radiation exposure to patients, fluoroscopy systems utilize lower mA settings, which also allows for longer exposure times if needed, but with a lower overall dose.

In contrast, radiography, which involves taking still images, typically operates at higher mA to produce the necessary image quality more quickly since it is focused on capturing a static image rather than a continuous series of images. The lower mA in fluoroscopy is balanced with higher kVp (kilovolt peak) to maintain image quality while minimizing patient dose, showcasing the unique design and purpose of fluoroscopy systems.