Where will the greatest dose savings be realized with increasing levels of beam filtration?

Increasing levels of beam filtration help to reduce patient exposure to low-energy photons, which are less penetrating and contribute to unnecessary radiation dose. The greatest dose savings are observed in the initial layers of tissue struck by the beam because these tissues are exposed first to the incoming radiation.

As filtration is applied, the lower-energy photons that contribute more to radiation dose without significant therapeutic benefit are absorbed by the filter before they can interact with the patient's tissues. This means that the overall dose delivered to the initial layers of tissue is significantly reduced because the unfiltered low-energy photons have been eliminated from the beam.

By targeting these initial layers, the filtration effectively minimizes the dose to a large volume of tissue that the beam first encounters, maximizing the effectiveness of the radiation while minimizing unnecessary exposure, especially to sensitive tissues like skin. This strategy is crucial for enhancing patient safety and reducing the risk of radiation-related side effects.