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CH06-07. Film-Screen Radiography - DD v9.0
CH06-07. Film-Screen Radiography - DD v9.0
X-ray +
photographic film
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Amplification with film+screen
X-ray +
photographic film +
intensifying screen
Film/Screen Efficiency
• Absorption Efficiency of the Screen screen characteristics
– Quantum Detection Efficiency (QDE):
Fraction of incident x-rays that interact with it
• Intrinsic Conversion Efficiency of the Screen
– Fraction of absorbed x-ray energy converted to light photons
– CaWO4 = 5%, Gd2O2S:Tb = 15%
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Film-screen combinations Hurter Driffield (HD) Plot
(or “characteristic curve”)
~ 1000x more photons Log-Log plot of optical transmission vs. x-ray exposure
Increase in sensitivity,
Hurter Driffield (HD) Plot
No change in contrast
Contrast ∝ slope
A more sensitive than B
Exposure > or < linear (“higher speed”)…. Lt shift
region reduces contrast
Less x-rays for same OD
For radiographic film:
Gradient ~2.5 – 3.5 Slope (contrast) unchanged
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Increase in sensitivity, Photosensitivity of silver halide
Increase in contrast
•Concentration-
•Temperature-
•Time-
of developer
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Common Processing Artifacts
Noise
• “Noise”: local variation in OD not due to attenuation in patient.
• Random variation in # xray photons interacting with screen.
• Random variation in fraction of light emitted by xray photons
interacting with screen.
70kVp 70kVp
5.5mAs 11mAs
Effect of mAs on
Optical Density
70kVp 70kVp
22mAs 40mAs
Effect of kVp on
Optical Density
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65kVp
Photon Energy vs. kVp
55kVp
25mAs 25mAs
75kVp 85kVp
25mAs 25mAs
Scattered photons:
•Different angle
•Lower energy
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Grid Errors Air Gap
Fewer scattered photons
reach film
Increases contrast
But……
Reduced source – object
distance increases dose
Magnifies image
• Improved by:
Reducing kVp increases
Lower kVp (less scatter)
contrast
Smaller x-ray field (less scatter)
Contrast media (high atomic number of iodine -> PE effect)
But……
Noise reduction (“contast” is actually contrast-to noise)
increases skin dose
Grid or air gap (reduce scattered photons reaching film )
Proper positioning (reduce superposition, grid artifacts)
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Sample Q’s Sample Q’s
2002 G39: 2002 G52:
In an x-ray machine with a tungsten target, The output of a fluoroscopic unit is 10 mR/min at
increasing the kVp from 100 to 150 will increase 50 cm. The output at 75 cm :
all of the following except:
A. 15.0
A. The total number of x-rays emitted. B. 7.5
B. The maximum energy of the x-rays. C. 6.6
C. The average energy of the spectrum. D. 5.0
D. The energy of the characteristic x-rays. E. 4.4
E. The heat units generated (for the same mAs).
A. fat, muscle
B. muscle, bone
C. iodine, bone
D. fat, air
E. air, muscle
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Sample Q’s Sample Q’s
2002 G77:
The purpose of a screen is to: 2002 G78:
A film of optical density (OD) 0.75 is placed over
1. Convert x-rays to light photons. another identicalfilm.The OD of the pair is_.
2. Reduce scatter reaching the film.
3. Reduce patient's exposure.
A. 0.75
4. Increase radiographic resolution.
B. 1.0
A. 1,2,3,4 C. 1.5
B. 2 only D. 1.75
C. 2,4 E. 2.25
D. 1,3
E. 4 only
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Sample Q’s Sample Q’s
2002 D17: 2002 D18:
A measurement of the cardiac dimensions is obtained The main reason a 12:1 grid is never used with
from a chest film. The SID is 72" and the heart is portable radiography is:
midway in a 14" chest. The distance between the
chest changer surface and the film is 3". The A. There will be too much grid cut-off if the grid is not
dimensions on the film are than the actual anatomy. positioned properly.
B. The output of portable x-ray units is too low.
A. 32% larger C. It is necessary to keep exposure times under lOInS.
B. 16% larger D. The increased scatter makes for wider latitude
C. 8% smaller radiographs which are undesirable for portable chest
D. 16% smaller x-rays.
E. 32% smaller E. High ratio grids may only be used at high kVp.
Portable x-ray units only go up to 90 kVp.
A. 0.2
B. 0.5 A. System B has the highest contrast.
C. 1.0 B. System C has the widest latitude.
D. 4.0 C. System A has the highest maximum density.
E. 20.0 D. System B has the highest base-fog density.
E. System C is the fastest.
Sample Q’s
2002 D24:
In some situations, e.g., a chest exam, it is important
to see radiographic anatomy in both high- and low-
density regions. To aid in this, one could choose a film
with a
A. High gradient
B. High gamma
C. Slow speed
D. Long latitude
E. Low fog
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Answers Sample Q’s
2002 G39:D
At 100 kVp, the highest characteristic x-rays (69 kV)
are already present, so the characteristic peaks will
remain the same, although their intensity will increase.
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Sample Q’s Sample Q’s
2002 G76:A 2002 G77:D
Geometric sharpness or edge gradient is reduced by Convert x-rays to light photons.
minimizing magnification. Reduce patient's exposure
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Sample Q’s Sample Q’s
2002 D15:C 2002 D17:B
By similar triangle geometry, the penumbra is equal to The heart-is situated 10" from the film (14"/2 + 3"). The
the focal spot size, since source-object and object-film magnification factor is 72/62 =1.16.
distances are equal.
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