Which factor can lead to an increase in radiographic contrast?

Increasing radiographic contrast is primarily affected by the levels of kilovoltage peak (kVp) used during an x-ray procedure. When kVp levels are decreased, the resulting x-ray image shows greater contrast. This is because lower kVp settings produce a narrower range of energies in the x-ray beam, which enhances the difference between the various tissues or materials being imaged.

Decreasing the kVp leads to higher absorption differences between the tissues, making it easier to distinguish between them on the film. In contrast, higher kVp can result in a more uniform exposure, which tends to diminish the visual difference between the structures, thus lowering contrast.

While adjusting other factors like milliampere-seconds (mAs) and exposure time can affect overall image density and detail, they do not directly impact contrast in the way kVp does. Using grids typically improves image contrast by reducing scatter radiation but is not applicable to the scenario presented in this question.