SIMPLIFIED BASICS OF X-RAY
AND RADIATION PROTECTION
.Dr. Mohamed Elfeshawy MD
Assistant Professor of
Radiology
Simplified basics of X-ray
Electromagnetic radiation:
o Is an electric and magnetic disturbance traveling through
space at the speed of light (2.998 × 108 m/s)
o Two types of EM radiation:
o Non-Ionizing radiation: include radio waves , microwaves &
infrared: Forms of radiation that doesn't carry enough energy
per quantum to ionize atoms or molecules.
o Ionizing radiation: like X ray and gamma ray : Forms of
radiation that are energetic enough to displace orbiting
electrons from the atoms in the absorbing medium , thus
forming positive ions
o Some sources of EM radiation include sources in the
cosmos (e.g., the sun and stars), radioactive elements,
and manufactured devices.
Simplified basics of X-ray
Simplified basics of X-ray
An X-ray beam is passed
through the body where
a portion of the X-rays is
either absorbed or
scattered by the internal
structures, and the
remaining X-ray pattern
is transmitted to a
detector (e.g., film or a
computer screen) for
recording or further
processing by a
computer.
Simplified basics of X-ray
CT, radiography, and fluoroscopy all work
on this basic principle.
Radiography - a single image is
recorded for later evaluation.
Mammography is a special type of
radiography to image the internal
structures of breasts.
Fluoroscopy - a continuous X-ray
image is displayed on a monitor,
allowing for real-time monitoring of a
procedure or passage of a contrast
agent (“dye”) through the body.
CT - many X-ray images are recorded
as the detector moves around the
patient's body. A computer
reconstructs all the individual images
into cross-sectional images or “slices”
of internal organs and tissues.
Simplified basics of X-ray
CT, radiography, and fluoroscopy all work
on this basic principle.
Radiography - a single image is
recorded for later evaluation.
Mammography is a special type of
radiography to image the internal
structures of breasts.
Fluoroscopy - a continuous X-ray
image is displayed on a monitor,
allowing for real-time monitoring of a
procedure or passage of a contrast
agent (“dye”) through the body.
CT - many X-ray images are recorded
as the detector moves around the
patient's body. A computer
reconstructs all the individual images
into cross-sectional images or “slices”
of internal organs and tissues.
Simplified basics of X-ray
CT, radiography, and fluoroscopy all
work on this basic principle .
Radiography - a single image is
recorded for later evaluation.
Mammography is a special type of
radiography to image the internal
structures of breasts.
Fluoroscopy - a continuous X-ray
image is displayed on a monitor,
allowing for real-time monitoring of
a procedure or passage of a contrast
agent (“dye”) through the body.
CT - many X-ray images are recorded
as the detector moves around the
patient's body. A computer
reconstructs all the individual images
into cross-sectional images or “slices”
of internal organs and tissues.
Simplified basics of X-ray
There are three criteria
that must be met to allow
electromagnetic radiation
to be used for imaging
purposes:
o Ability to create the
electromagnetic radiation at the
required wavelength.
o Ability to focus the radiation on a
particular area.
o Ability to detect the radiation
once it has passed through the
patient.
(create, focus and detect)
Simplified basics of X-ray
1- Ability to create the
electromagnetic radiation at the
required wavelength.
o The electric current is generated
from a high voltage generator.
o These electrons are emitted
from a filament on the cathode
and rush towards a target
material known as the anode
which holds a disc made of
tungsten.
o When the electrons collide with
the tungsten, several
interactions occur at the atomic
level, one of these interactions
releases a X-ray photon
Simplified basics of X-ray
2- Ability to focus the
radiation on a particular area.
o These X-rays then travel
through a focusing cup,
focusing and accelerating
the photons towards the
area of the body to be
imaged.
3-Ability to detect the
radiation once it has passed
through the patient.
o The photons are
detected behind the
patient by cassette receptor
or digital plate receptor
Interpreting an X-Ray
The interpretation of an X-ray film
requires sound anatomical
knowledge, and an understanding
that different tissue types absorb x-
rays to varying degrees:
High density tissue (e.g. bone) –
absorb x-rays to a greater degree and
appear white on the film.
Low density tissue (e.g the lungs) –
absorb x-rays to a lesser degree and
appear black on the film.
Intermediate density tissue (e.g.
muscle and fat) – appears as shades
of grey on the x-ray film.
Interpreting an X-Ray
Another interpretation is described
by Hook .
Air: The blackest part of the
radiograph.
Fat: lighter grey shade compared
to air
Soft tissue or fluid consists of
denser organs and fluid within
the body. More white than fatty
tissue
Bones or calcium: bones are
very dense
Metal: extremely dense and
white that will not allow any x-
rays to pass.
Radiation protection
Radiation protection
may be defined
simply as effective
measures applied
by radiation
workers to safe
patients, personnel
and the general
public from
unnecessary
exposure to ionizing
radiation.
Radiation protection
The overall principles are used for all
controllable exposure situations .
Justification: The advantages
(benefits) must outweigh the
disadvantages (risks).
Limitation: Each individual must
be protected against risks that are
too great, through the application of
individual radiation dose limits.
Optimization: It means "the
exposures, the number of people
exposed, and the magnitude of
their individual doses" should all be
kept as Low As Reasonably
Achievable (known as ALARA or
ALARP).
Radiation protection
The purpose of radiation
protection is
To provide an appropriate
level of protection for
humans without limiting
the beneficial actions
giving rise to radiation
exposure.
To prevent the occurrence
of harmful deterministic
effects and to reduce the
probability of occurrence
of stochastic effects . (e.g.
cancer and hereditary effects)
Radiation protection
Radiation exposure can be
managed by a combination of
three factors
1-Time: Reducing the time of an
exposure reduces the effective
dose proportionally. The time is
direct proportional to the
radiation dose.
2-Distance: Increasing distance
reduces dose i.e.; the dose is
inverse proportional to the
distance.
3-Shielding: Sources of radiation
can be shielded with solid or
liquid material, which absorbs
the energy of the radiation. The
shielding materials are concrete
and lead.
Radiation protection
There are four
patterns of
shielding in
diagnostic
radiology:
1- X-ray tube
shielding.
2- Room shielding.
3- Personnel (staff or
occupational
workers) shielding.
4- Patient shielding
Radiation protection
There are four
patterns of
shielding in
diagnostic
radiology:
1- X-ray tube
shielding.
2- Room shielding.
3- Personnel (staff or
occupational
workers) shielding.
4- Patient shielding
Radiation protection
There are four
patterns of
shielding in
diagnostic
radiology:
1- X-ray tube
shielding.
2- Room shielding.
3- Personnel (staff or
occupational
workers) shielding.
4- Patient shielding
Radiation protection
There are four
patterns of
shielding in
diagnostic
radiology:
1- X-ray tube
shielding.
2- Room shielding.
3- Personnel (staff or
occupational
workers) shielding.
4- Patient shielding
Radiation protection
There are four
patterns of
shielding in
diagnostic
radiology:
1- X-ray tube
shielding.
2- Room shielding.
3- Personnel (staff or
occupational
workers) shielding.
4- Patient shielding
Radiation protection
Personal Protective
Equipment (PPE)
Includes all clothing and
accessories which can be
worn to prevent severe
illness and injury as a result
of exposure to radiation
and radioactive material.
Because radiation can
affect humans, various
protection strategies have
been developed to protect
humans from the harmful
effects of radiation
exposure from a spectrum
of sources.
Radiation protection
Personal Protective Equipment
(PPE)
Lead shielding: wear such as
lead aprons can protect patients
and clinicians from the potentially
harmful radiation effects
It is quite feasible to protect large
surface areas of the body from
radiation in the lower-energy
spectrum because very little
shielding material is required to
provide the necessary protection.
Lead shield optimum is 0.25mm
thick for secondary radiation and
0.5mm thick for primary radiation.
Radiation protection
Personal Protective Equipment
(PPE)
Lead shielding: wear such as
lead aprons
Recent studies show that copper
shielding is far more effective
than lead and is likely to replace
it as the standard material for
radiation shielding.
Other protective shields: Eye
glasses with side shields, thyroid
shields, gonad shields, and breast
shields to protect these organs
especially in children and
young adults.
THANK YOU
.Dr. Mohamed Elfeshawy MD
Assistant Professor of
Radiology
