Image quality

• Radiographic image quality - refers to the accuracy and clarity

of an X-ray image. It is the accuracy of representing a
patient's anatomy on an image.
• It can also be defined as the ability of the film/detector
to record each pint in the object as a point on the film.
• It is use to describe the visibility of diagnostically
important detail in the radiograph. High quality images
are required to make accurate diagnosis .
• The image quality depends on the following physical
factors:
1. contrast
2. Resolution
3. Noise
 Image quality
4. Sharpness
5. Artifacts
Now we are going to discuss each factor in detail :
1.Sharpness of radiographic image
Sharpness in radiographic images, refers to how well the edges
and fine details of an object are reproduced on the image, and is
influenced by factors like focal spot size, distances, and
patient movement.
• When an image is sharp, the boundaries between different elements
are well-defined, and you can see textures and small features clearly. If
it’s not sharp, things look blurry or soft.
• Factors Affecting Image Sharpness :
 Sharpness of radiographic image
1. Focal Spot Size (Geometric Unsharpness) :
• The X-ray tube’s focal spot is the area where X-rays are emitted. A
smaller focal spot produces sharper images because it reduces
penumbra (the fuzzy edge around an object caused by the X-ray
beam’s divergence).
• Larger focal spots increase penumbra ; increases geometric
unsharpness, blurring edges.
2. Distances
Source-to-Object Distance (SOD): The distance between
the X-ray source and the detector affects sharpness. A longer SID
reduces the penumbra .
Object-to-Image Distance (OID): Decreasing the
distance between the object and the image receptor
 Sharpness of radiographic image
3. Patient Movement: Any movement during the exposure will
blur the image, reducing sharpness.
4. Film Composition : The size of the silver halide crystals in
the film emulsion affects sharpness. Smaller crystals produce
sharper images, but slower film speeds are required.
5. Scattering : Scatter radiation can reduce image quality
and sharpness.
6. Exposure Time: Shorter exposure times reduce motion blur
and improve sharpness.
• Penumbra : The umbra is the area on the film that represents the
image of the object, while the penumbra is the area around the
umbra.

• The penumbra is the zone of unsharpness along the

edge of the image.
 contrast of radiographic image
• Radiographic contrast refers to the difference in density or
grayness between areas on a radiographic image. which helps
to delineate structures and tissues.
• Types of Contrast:
High Contrast: Characterized by a large difference in
radiographic density between adjacent areas, resulting in a
"black and white" appearance with fewer shades of gray.
Low Contrast: Characterized by a smaller difference in
radiographic density, resulting in more shades of gray.
• Factors Affecting Contrast:
• Subject Contrast: This refers to the inherent differences
in tissue density and thickness within the body part being
imaged. For example, bone has a higher density than soft
 contrast of radiographic image
• X-ray Beam Quality: The energy of the x-ray beam,
determined by kilovoltage peak (kVp), affects
contrast. Lower kVp generally results in higher contrast.
• Receptor Characteristics: The type of radiographic
receptor (film or digital detector) and its processing can
also influence contrast.
• Scattered Radiation : creates unwanted exposure to the x-ray image
reduces image contrast.
• Milliampere-Seconds (mas) : improper mAs can indirectly impact
contrast. Underexposure (low mAs) can make an image too light,
losing contrast, while overexposure (high mAs) can wash it out.
• Collimation : Limiting the X-ray field to the area of interest reduces
scatter from surrounding tissues, improving contrast. Tight collimation
 Resolution of radiographic image
Radiographic image resolution, or the ability to distinguish fine
details the ability of the system to distinguish between two
closely spaced structures or details as separate entities.
Its Importance: High resolution allows for the clear
visualization of small, subtle details, which is essential for
accurate diagnosis and treatment planning.
Types of Resolution :
• Spatial Resolution: This refers to the ability to
resolve fine details in space, measured in Line
Pairs per Millimeter (lp/mm):
Line Pairs per Millimeter (lp/mm): This is a common
unit for measuring spatial resolution, with higher values
indicating better resolution.
 Resolution of radiographic image
• Contrast Resolution: This refers to the ability to distinguish
between different shades of gray, which is important for
visualizing subtle differences in tissue density.

Factors Affecting resolution :

• X-ray Source: The size of the focal spot (the area where x-
rays are produced) directly impacts resolution; a smaller focal
spot results in better resolution.
• Detector Characteristics :
Digital Detectors: Resolution depends on pixel size.
Film-Screen Systems: Resolution is limited by the film
grain size and the thickness of the intensifying
 Resolution of radiographic image
• Distances :
Source-to-Image Distance (SID) - A longer SID reduces the beam’s
divergence, minimizing magnification and penumbra, which enhances
resolution. For instance, an SID of 180 cm (72 inches) in chest imaging
improves detail compared to 100 cm (40 inches).
Object-to-Image Distance (OID) - The distance between the patient and
the detector affects resolution. A larger OID magnifies the image and
increases penumbra, blurring fine details and reducing resolution. Keeping
OID minimal (e.g., placing the body part directly on the detector) preserves
resolution.
• Patient Motion : Motion during exposure—whether from breathing, t or
heartbeats—blurs the image, effectively lowering resolution. This is called
motion unsharpness.
Faster exposure times - preserving resolution.
 Resolution of radiographic image
• Scattered Radiation :
scattering of radiation contributes to lower image resolution.
• Typical Values:
General radiography: 2.5–5 lp/mm (digital detectors)
Mammography: 10–20 lp/mm (specialized detectors).
Film-screen: 5–10 lp/mm (depending on screen thickness).
In radiography, spatial resolution is the primary metric, but all
types interplay .
To measure spatial resolution , number of functions are given
below :
 Resolution of radiographic image
• Point spread function (PSF) - describes what a single point in the
object looks like in the image. the acquired image is always a
blurred representation of the actual object . This blurring is
described by the so-called Point Spread Function (PSF).
for ex : imaging a lead sheet that has the tiny hole (10µm).
Though PSF describes the response of the imaging system, it
represents a discrete point in the image surface and it is not
suitable for system like film-screen , involving fixed area.
• Line spread function (LSF) - The Line Spread Function (LSF) in
optics and imaging describes the distribution of light when a
narrow line source (or slit) is imaged by an optical system,
essentially showing how the system blurs or spreads a line.
 Resolution of radiographic image
• The LSF can be Fourier transformed to obtain the
Modulation Transfer Function (MTF), which
describes how well the system can transfer
contrast at different spatial frequencies.
• In this imaging is done with a slit (10µm,Platinum).
Applications:
X-ray imaging, Spectroscopy, Computed
Tomography, microscopy.
 Resolution of radiographic image
• Edge spread function:
The ESF provides information about how well an imaging system
can reproduce fine details and edges, which is a key factor in
determining spatial resolution.
measures how a sharp edge (e.g., a boundary between bone and tissue) transitions
in the image—whether it stays crisp or gets fuzzy.
Ex : When imaging a sharp edge, the ESF would show how the
intensity changes from the low-intensity side to the high-intensity
side, reflecting the system's blurring effect on the edge.
Applications:
• Image Quality Assessment - Evaluating the performance of
imaging systems
• Satellite Imagery - Assessing the spatial resolution of optical
satellite imagery.
• Medical Imaging -Analyzing the performance of medical imaging
Resolution of radiographic image

Edge spread function

 Resolution of radiographic image
the Modulation Transfer Function (MTF)
• The MTF is a tool used to measure how well an imaging system—like a
radiographic setup—transfers details from the object (e.g., a patient) to the
final image. Specifically, it shows how much of the contrast and sharpness
of fine structures (think tiny lines or edges) is preserved.
• It’s like a report card for the system’s ability to handle detail, expressed as a
value between 0 and 1 (or 0% to 100%) across different levels of fineness,
called spatial frequencies.
• (MTF) quantifies how well an imaging system preserves
contrast and spatial resolution, reflecting the ratio of image
contrast to object contrast across different spatial
frequencies.
• At a given frequency, an MTF of 1 (100%) means perfect detail transfer (no
loss of contrast). An MTF of 0 (0%) means the detail is completely lost—
 Resolution of radiographic image
the Modulation Transfer Function (MTF)
Importance - MTF helps assess the contrast resolution of
imaging systems, allowing for comparison of different detectors
and systems.
How it's used:
MTF is typically represented as a curve where the x-axis shows
spatial frequency and the y-axis shows the MTF value (ranging from
0 to 1), with 1 representing perfect contrast transfer.
Factors Affecting MTF (Simplified)
• Focal Spot Size: Smaller focal spots keep the MTF higher at fine details by reducing
blur.
• Detector Quality: Smaller pixels or thinner screens maintain MTF at higher
frequencies.
• Motion: Blurring from patient movement lowers the MTF across all frequencies.
Resolution of radiographic image
 Resolution of radiographic image
Temporal resolution
• In radiology, temporal resolution refers to the ability of an
imaging system to capture changes in the object being
imaged over time, crucial for dynamic studies like cardiac
imaging or capturing rapid physiological changes.
• the time it takes to acquire a single frame or image in a
dynamic imaging sequence.
• Importance:
Dynamic Imaging: High temporal resolution is essential for imaging fast-
moving structures or capturing rapid physiological changes.
Cardiac Imaging: It's fundamental in cardiac CT and MRI, where a rapidly
beating heart is imaged over milliseconds into multiple frame-captures.
 Resolution of radiographic image
• Factors Affecting Temporal Resolution:
Frame Rate: In ultrasound, temporal resolution is determined by the
image frame rate, with higher frame rates leading to better temporal
resolution.
frame rate – it refers to the no. of ultrasound images displayed per
second. Measured in Hertz(Hz) .
Acquisition Time: In MRI, the time gap between consecutive images
indicates the temporal resolution.
Gantry Rotation Time (CT): In multi-slice CT, gantry rotation times
influence temporal resolution.
 Noise in radiographic image
• Noise in radiography refers to unwanted, random variations in
brightness or pixel values that create a grainy or speckled appearance
in the image. It obscures fine details, making it harder to distinguish
structures (like tissues or lesions) and reducing overall image quality.
• noise refers to random variations or fluctuations in the
image that obscure the true signal and can be seen as
graininess, especially in digital images, and is primarily
caused by quantum mottle (random distribution of X-ray
photons).
• quantum mottle - type of noise in radiographic images caused by
too few X-ray photons reaching the detector ; making the image less
clear. It happens when the radiation dose (mAs) is low, so there’s not
enough photon “data” to form a smooth picture. Increasing the dose
reduces quantum mottle but raises patient exposure. It’s a common
 Noise in radiographic image
• Causes of Noise:
Quantum Mottle: This is the most significant source of noise in
radiography and is caused by the random nature of X-ray photon
emission and detection.
Low Number of Photons: When fewer X-ray photons are used to
create an image, the fluctuations in the number of photons reaching
the detector become more pronounced, resulting in increased noise.
Other Factors: Other factors that can contribute to noise include the
detector's sensitivity, the quality of the X-ray beam, and the presence
of scatter radiation.
• Impact of Noise
Reduced Image Quality
 Noise in radiographic image
Difficulty in Detecting Lesions:
Signal-to-Noise Ratio (SNR): The signal-to-noise ratio (SNR) is a
measure of the strength of the true signal (the image) relative to the
noise. A lower SNR indicates more noise and poorer image quality.
• Minimizing Noise:
Increasing the Number of Photons
Using a Higher-Quality Detector
Optimizing Exposure Factors
Using Collimation
 Artifacts in radiographic imaging
• Artifacts are unwanted image distortions or misrepresentations of
tissue structures that arise during the imaging process, hindering
accurate diagnosis.
• These can be caused by various factors, including patient
movement, technical errors, or the presence of metallic objects.
• Types of Artifacts
Patient-related artifacts
• Motion artifact: Occurs when the patient moves during the
imaging process
• Metal artifacts: Metallic objects (e.g., jewelry, implants) can
cause streaking, shadowing, or complete obscuration of
underlying tissues.
• Partial volume artifact: Occurs when a structure straddles the
edge of a slice, leading to an inaccurate representation of its
density.
 Artifacts in radiographic imaging
Technical artifacts:
• Beam hardening: Occurs when X-rays pass through different tissue
densities, leading to variations in their energy levels and causing
streaking artifacts.
• Scatter radiation: X-rays that change direction after interacting with
tissues can reduce image contrast and clarity.
• Grid cut-off: Occurs when the x-ray beam is not properly aligned with the
grid, resulting in a loss of signal and a decrease in image quality.
• Image processing artifacts: These can arise from the imaging plate, rollers
in the CR reader, or the plate reader itself.
Other artifacts
• Ghosting: Occurs when a previous image is superimposed on the current
image.
• Debris in the housing: Debris in the collimator tube can cause small
Artifacts in radiographic imaging

Metal artifacts
Motion artifact:

Partial volume artifact: Grid cut-off:

Artifacts in radiographic imaging

beam hardening artifact Debris in the housing:

Ghosting: Image processing artifacts

 thankyou
Presented by – Parul Gupta
Subject – Equipment operation and quality control
Department – MRIT 2nd sem