What indicates a possible overexposure in radiographic imaging?

In radiographic imaging, overexposure typically results in darkening of the image. This happens because excessive radiation reaches the film or digital sensor, leading to increased density. An overexposed image appears darker than desired, reducing the visibility of anatomical structures and potentially obscuring important details that need to be assessed for accurate diagnosis.

The other aspects mentioned, such as contrast, detail, and artifacts, can certainly affect image quality, but darkening specifically corresponds to the issue of overexposure. Increased image contrast could happen due to various reasons not limited to exposure levels, while loss of detail is more associated with motion blur or focus issues than with overexposure alone. Artifacts may arise from a variety of other technical errors or physical obstructions, rather than being a direct indication of overexposure. Thus, the characteristic darkening of the image directly reflects the excess exposure to radiation.