PRINCIPLES OF IMAGING

SEMI-FINALS: SECOND SEMESTER REVIEWER

RADIOGRAPHIC QUALITY

▪ Refers to how easily details can be perceived on

a radiograph.
o Need to obtain as much diagnostic
information as possible about the
internal structures of the patient.
▪ A primary responsibility of the radiographer is
to evaluate radiographic images to determine
whether sufficient information exists for a
diagnosis.
▪ Evaluating radiographic quality requires the
radiographer to assess the image for both its
visibility of recorded detail (photographic
properties) and its sharpness of recorded detail
(geometric properties).
▪ Radiographic quality is the combination of both Exposure factors
the visibility and the sharpness of recorded ▪ Poor contrast is due to inappropriate exposure
detail. factors.
o Visibility of image detail is determined 1. mAs - affects contrast when too little or too
by the extent to which the structural much is used.
components of the anatomic area of o Primarily affects density so should not
interest can be seen on the recorded affect contrast if proper kVp is used.
image. Visibility of the recorded detail is o If mAs is insufficient, contrast is
achieved by the proper balance of reduced because overall density of the
radiographic density and radiographic radiograph is reduced.
contrast. o If quantity of x-rays reaching the film is
o Sharpness of image detail refers to the too low, film will be pale.
structural lines or borders of tissues in o If too much mAs is applied, overall film
the image and the amount of blur of the will be blacker but less effect on
image. contrast.
▪ Quality depends on 2. Kilovoltage
1. Contrast o Affects both contrast and density
2. Radiographic Density o Increase in kVp = Increase in
3. Detail penetrating power.
4. Distortion o Increase in kVp = shorter wavelengths
are produced.
RADIOGRAPHIC CONTRAST o As penetrating power increases, so does
scatter radiation. This can alter
▪ Defined as visible difference between two radiographic contrast.
adjacent radiographic densities 3. Scatter Radiation
▪ Contrast is influenced by: o Radiation that does not form an image
o Subject contrast and is scattered in all directions.
o Scatter radiation o Contrast is decreased because
o Film type inappropriate areas of the film are
o Film fog being exposed.
o Sources of Scatter Radiation
▪ From the Patient
▪ Table
▪ Film Tray
4. Backscatter
o Backscatter - radiation arising from
sources behind the image plane that are
scattered back to the image.
 PRINCIPLES OF IMAGING
SEMI-FINALS: SECOND SEMESTER REVIEWER

o Avoid backscatter by limiting the size of and thickness of the tissue under
the x-ray beam so that the field does not examination.
exceed the image receptor. ▪ Greater radiographic density may be
▪ Cassettes contain lead - foil produced by increasing:
backing to prevent backscatter o Total # of x-rays that reach the film
from reaching the film. o The penetrating power of the x-rays
5. Grids o The developing time
o When thick body parts are being o The temperature of the developer
radiographed, you want to minimize ▪ mAs- number of x-rays leaving the x-ray tube
scatter radiation, you do this by using a in a set period of time.
grid. ▪ When kVp increases, the penetrating power
o Grid - device placed between the increases as well. This means more x-rays
patient and the radiographic film will reach the film causing a darker
designed to absorb non-image forming radiograph.
x-rays. ▪ Other Density Influences
o Composed of alternating strips of lead o Thickness and type of tissue being
and spacer material. radiographed
o Grid ratio – the height of the lead strip ▪ Increase in thickness, means
divided by the distance between the that the patient can absorb
interspaces. more x-rays which will results
o Spacer material usually consists of fiber, in a lighter image.
aluminum, or plastic because they have ▪ Large patients absorb more x-
low x-ray absorption rays, so less x-rays reach the
o Grids may be: film, so the lighter the image.
▪ Placed on top of the cassette. o Type of tissue
▪ Built into the cassette. ▪ Type of tissue affects density as
▪ Placed under the table between well. Higher density tissues
the patient and the cassette. will cause less x-rays to reach
o Generally, grids now are a part of the film, therefore have lighter
cassette or the x-ray table. areas on the film at that place.

Controlling Factors Influencing Factors Controlling Factors Influencing Factors

Kilovoltage Grids Milliamperage Kilovoltage

Collimation Exposure time Distance
Anatomic part Grids
Contrast media Film-screen speed
Processing Collimation
Filter Anatomic part
Anode heel effect
Reciprocity law
RADIOGRAPHIC DENSITY Generator output
Filtration
▪ Defined as the degree of blackness or
Film processing
darkness on a radiograph.
▪ Black areas on a developed radiograph are
produced by deposits of metallic silver in the RADIOGRAPHIC DETAIL AND DEFINITION
film emulsion that result from exposure to x-
rays and their subsequent processing. ▪ Terms used to describe image sharpness,
▪ X-rays make radiographic film black clarity, distinctness, and perceptibility.
o Degree of blackness on a radiograph ▪ Lack of detail factors
depends on the amount of x-rays 1. Geometric unsharpness - loss of detail
reaching the film. due to geometric distortion
▪ Density is influenced by the quantity and ▪ Large focal spot size
quality of the x-ray beam, as well as the type ▪ Decreased SID
▪ Motion
 PRINCIPLES OF IMAGING
SEMI-FINALS: SECOND SEMESTER REVIEWER

▪ Screens and films

Controlling Influencing Factors

Factors

Focal-spot size Type of intensifying screen

SID Presence of motion
OID Anything that causes BLUR
(penumbra)

DISTORTION
▪ Size Distortion and Shape Distortion
variation in size and shape of anatomic
structures due to their position in relation
to the x-ray source and film.
o Important to keep areas being
radiographed parallel to image
receptor to avoid distortion.
▪ Distortions include:
1. Magnification
2. Elongation
3. Foreshortening