What must the radiographer do to correct a radiograph with proper exposure but excessive quantum noise?

To address excessive quantum noise in a radiograph that has proper exposure, the most effective approach is to decrease the kVp while simultaneously increasing the mAs. Quantum noise occurs due to insufficient exposure to the detector, which can lead to a grainy or mottled appearance in the image. When both kVp and mAs are adjusted correctly, it can enhance the overall image quality.

By decreasing kVp, the energy of the x-ray photons is lowered, requiring more photons (higher mAs) to achieve the same level of exposure on the detector. This adjustment increases the number of x-ray photons produced, thus reducing the noise and improving image quality. The increase in mAs compensates for the decrease in kVp by ensuring that adequate photons reach the image receptor, thus reducing the likelihood of noise.

This combination of adjustments addresses the imbalance and helps ensure that the image is both correctly exposed and has improved quality by mitigating quantum noise.