Absorption of x-ray photons in a patient's body is primarily due to which interaction?

The absorption of x-ray photons in a patient's body is primarily due to the photoelectric effect. This interaction occurs when an incident x-ray photon has enough energy to completely absorb into an atom, typically resulting in the ejection of an inner-shell electron. The absorption of the photon leads to ionization of the atom, which can subsequently result in tissue damage or alterations, but it is also crucial in producing the contrast seen in medical imaging.

The photoelectric effect is particularly significant in radiography because it is more likely to occur with lower energy x-rays and in materials with higher atomic numbers, such as bones. This is why radiographic images show differences in density between various tissues—the higher atomic number materials absorb more x-rays due to this interaction, creating the contrast that radiologists rely on for diagnosis.

In contrast, while Compton scattering may contribute to some degree of interaction and scattering of x-rays within the body, it primarily involves the x-ray photon transferring a portion of its energy to an outer-shell electron without being entirely absorbed. Bremsstrahlung refers to the radiation produced when charged particles are decelerated or deflected, which happens primarily in the context of x-ray tubes, not within the patient's body. Characteristic radiation is produced by the electron