Stacie Pomponio

RTE 142

Notebook #7

Film-Screen Radiography Digital Radiography

Density According to ARRT, Radiographic Density in DR is referred to as Image
(film) density is the degree of blackening or Receptor Exposure.
opacity of an area in a radiograph due
to the accumulation of black metallic There are 3 primary factors that
Image silver following exposure and processing determine IR exposure:
Recept of a film. mAs
or o Time
Exposu Overexposure is high density (too o mA
re (DR) dark)
Underexposure is low density (too There are secondary factors including:
light) kVp
o 4% change in kVp
In order to create a visible difference in o 15% rule
density on a radiograph there must be a SID
minimum of a 30% change in mAs, and o Inversely proportional
a minimum 2 times of half mAs to o Inverse Square Law
correct for under or over exposure
OID
o Inversely proportional
Screen/film Speed is directly
proportional to density o Air Gap technique
decreases it because
There are 3 primary factors that scattered photons diverge
determine IR exposure: and miss image receptor
mAs Grid Ratio
o Time o Inversely proportional
o mA Filtration
o Inversely proportional
There are secondary factors including: o Increased filtration reduces
kVp IR exposure due to higher
o 4% change in kVp average beam energy and
o 15% rule less beam intensity
SID Part thickness
o Inversely proportional o Inversely proportional
o Inverse Square Law o 4cm increased patient
thickness adjust mAs by
OID
factor of 2
o Inversely proportional
Mass density
o Air Gap technique decreases
it because scattered
 photons diverge and miss
image receptor
Grid Ratio
o Inversely proportional
Filtration
o Inversely proportional
o Increased filtration reduces
IR exposure due to higher
average beam energy and
less beam intensity
Part thickness
o Inversely proportional
o 4cm increased patient
thickness adjust mAs by
factor of 2
Mass density
Collimation
o Inversely proportional
o Reduces # of photons
o Less scatter
o Decreased IR exposure
Fog
o Directly Proportional
Contra According to ARRT, Radiographic
st contrast is defined as the visible
differences between any two selected
areas of density levels within the
radiographic image. Contrast is
described with a scale of contrast,
which is the number of densities that
are visible (aka number of shades of
gray). Contrast is also referred as short
scale, which is high contrast (density
decreased), and long scale, which is low
contrast (density increased).
Visible differences between any
two areas of density levels
Is a result of differences in
attenuation between tissues
Collimation
o Inversely proportional
o Reduces # of photons
o Less scatter
o Decreased IR exposure
Fog
o Directly Proportional
Overexposure = causes too
much information (useless &
cant process image)
Underexposure = not enough
information to reach the detector
Preset response curve to help
poor exposure factors for image
Wide latitude
Visible differences in images:
Minimum 30% for visible change
in density with changes in
doubles or halves
4% change in kVp
15% rule
The ARRT states that contrast is
determined primarily by the
processing algorithm that provides a
desired image appearance. In DR,
contrast is described as gray scale, as
opposed to film screen, which is called
scale of contrast.
Ability to see details
Bit depth is the amount of grays
that can be used
Look Up Table applies contrast
Histogram is selected
# of grays directly related to
signal
Primary Factors:
 Scatter
Primary Factors: Underpenetration
kVp Digital detector need > than 60
o High kVp=low contrast kVp
o Low kVp =high contrast
Secondary Factors:
Processing Secondary Factors:
o Longer scale Processing
Fog o Longer scale
o Increased fog = Longer Fog
scale o Increased fog = Longer
Collimation scale
o Shorter scale Collimation
Grids o Shorter scale
o Shorter scale Grids
OID o Shorter scale
o Increased OID (air gap) = OID
shorter scale o Increased OID (air gap) =
Beam Filtration shorter scale
o Increased beam filtration= Beam Filtration
Longer scale o Increased beam filtration=
mAs Longer scale
o Increased mAs = Longer mAs
scale o Increased mAs = Longer
Tissue: type scale
o Thickness Tissue: type
o Density o Thickness
o Contrast media o Density
o Pathology o Contrast media
o Pathology
 Density

Differences