If magnification in mammography is performed without a small focal spot size, what is the likely consequence?

When magnification is performed in mammography, the use of a small focal spot size is crucial for maintaining image clarity. A small focal spot minimizes the penumbra effect, which is the blurring at the edges of an image caused by the finite size of the x-ray beam. If magnification is done without utilizing a small focal spot, the image becomes prone to increased blurriness due to this penumbra effect. This is particularly important in mammography, where precise visualization of small structures, such as microcalcifications or small tumors, is necessary for accurate diagnosis.

In other contexts, while distortion and overexposure may occur for various reasons, they are not directly tied to the lack of a small focal spot during magnification. An image may indeed be clear if the parameters such as exposure or technique are adjusted correctly, but without a small focal spot, clarity is compromised due to the blurriness that results from the enlargement of the image. Thus, in the context of the question, the presence of blurriness as a consequence of not using a small focal spot during magnification is the most relevant outcome.