PRINCIPLES OF IMAGING
FINALS: SECOND SEMESTER REVIEWER
DETAIL AND DISTORTION
IMAGE DETAIL
▪ The sharpness of the appearance of small
structures on the radiograph
▪ Image detail can be evaluated by two means:
1. Sharpness of image detail (Recorded detail)
2. Visibility of image detail
1. Sharpness of Image Detail
▪ Sharpness of image detail refers to the
structural lines or borders of tissues in the
image and the amount of blur of the image.
▪ It is best measured by spatial resolution.
▪ Factors that generally control the sharpness of
image detail:
Geometric factors
1. Focal-spot size ↓
2. SID ↑
3. OID ↓
2. Visibility of Image Detail
It is also influenced by: ▪ Visibility of image detail refers to the ability to
1. Type of intensifying screen see the detail on the radiograph.
2. Presence of motion ▪ It is best measured by contrast resolution.
3. Anything that causes BLUR (penumbra) ▪ Factors that generally control the visibility of
image detail:
▪ Focal spot is the area of the anode surface o Photographic factors
which receives the beam of electrons from the 1. Contrast
cathode. It is the apparent source of x-rays. 2. Optical density
PRINCIPLES OF IMAGING
FINALS: SECOND SEMESTER REVIEWER
It is also influenced by: SHAPE DISTORTION
1. Collimation ↑ 1. Foreshortening
2. Use of grids ↑ ▪ means that the anatomical part of
3. Anything that FOG or produces scatter interest appears smaller than normal.
radiation ▪ Happens when the IR and x-ray tube are
perpendicular but the object imaged is
angled. (B)
▪ Results from poor alignment of the
anatomical part.
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DISTORTION
▪ The misrepresentation of the object s size and
shape on the radiograph
▪ Two types:
1. Shape distortion
o Foreshortening
o Elongation
2. Size distortion 2. Elongation
o Magnification ▪ means that the anatomical part of
interest appears bigger than normal.
▪ Factors that generally control distortion: ▪ Happens when the CR and the object
1. Object thickness imaged is perpendicular but the IR is
o Thick objects are more distorted angled.
than thin objects. ▪ Happens when the IR and the object
2. Object position imaged is perpendicular but the CR is
o If the object plane and image plane angled. (C)
are not parallel, distortion occurs. ▪ Results from poor alignment of the IR
3. Object shape or x-ray
o If the object s shape is irregular,
distortion occurs.
PRINCIPLES OF IMAGING
FINALS: SECOND SEMESTER REVIEWER
SIZE DISTORTION Since the object size can’t be measured, the MF can
1. Magnification be determined from the ratio of SID and SOD:
▪ refers to a condition where all images
on the radiograph are larger than the MAGNIFICATION FACTOR
objects they represent.
▪ For most medical images, a small MF =
SOURCE−TO−IMAGE−RECEPTOR DISTANCE (SID)
SOURCE−TO−OBJECT DISTANCE (SOD)
magnification
▪ must be maintained.
▪ Magnification radiography is when SAMPLE PROBLEM #1
magnification is desirable and is
carefully planned into the The spleen measures 14.4 cm on the radiograph,
radiographic examination. provided with 36 SID and 29 SOD. What will be
its magnification factor?
How to minimize magnification:
▪ Large SID: Use a large source-to-
image receptor distance.
▪ Small OID: Place the part closer to the
image receptor.
Quantitatively, magnification is expressed by the
magnification factor (MF), which is defined as SAMPLE PROBLEM #2
follow:
A renal calculus measures 0.65 cm on the
MAGNIFICATION FACTOR radiograph. The SID was at 40 and the SOD was at
92 cm. What is the actual size of the calculus?
IMAGE SIZE
MF =
OBJECT SIZE
SAMPLE PROBLEM #1
The heart of a cardiomegaly patient measures
0.016 m and measures 1.76 cm on the radiograph.
What is the MF?
SAMPLE PROBLEM #2
The size of the image as measured on the
radiograph is 16.3 cm with an MF of 1.49. What is
the object s original size?
PRINCIPLES OF IMAGING
FINALS: SECOND SEMESTER REVIEWER
RADIOGRAPHIC DENISTY PROBLEM #3
SAMPLE PROBLEMS Which of the following set of factors will exhibit the
lowest density?
a. 8:1 Grid ratio, 72” SID
b. 16:1 Grid ratio, 40” SID
c. 10:1 Grid ratio, 72” SID
d. 12:1 Grid ratio, 40” SID
PROBLEM #1
Which of the following set of factors will exhibit
the highest density? PROBLEM #4
a. 500 mA, 0.05 s Which of the following groups of technical factors
b. 200 mA, 0.30 s will produce the greatest radiographic density?
c. 150 mA, 0.10 s a. 94 kVp, 100 speed screens
d. 100 mA, 0.10 s b. 94 kVp, 200 speed screens
c. 94 kVp, 50 speed screens
d. 80 kVp, 200 speed screens
PROBLEM #2
Which of the following set of factors will exhibit the
lowest density?
a. 10 mAs, 8:1 Grid ratio
b. 15 mAs, 16:1 Grid ratio
c. 20 mAs, 10:1 Grid ratio
d. 25 mAs, 12:1 Grid ratio
