CHAPTER 1

CONCEPTS OF RADIOLOGIC SCIENCE

NATURE OF OUR SURROUNDINGS Thermal/Heat Energy

 The energy in motion at the molecular level
Matter
 Anything that occupies space & has mass Nuclear Energy
 The energy that is contained within the
Atoms nucleus of an atom
 The building blocks of matter
Electromagnetic Energy
Mass  The type of energy that is used in an x-rays
 The quantity of matter as described by its
energy equivalence Theory of Relativity
 The distinguishing characteristic of matter  Albert Einstein
 States that matter and energy are
Weight interchangeable
 The force exerted on a body under the
influence of gravity Matter-Energy Equivalence
 Formula: E=mc2
MATTER AND ENERGY
Radiation
Matter  The energy emitted & transferred through
 Material substance with mass of which space
physical objects are composed
Visible Light
Atoms & Molecules  Radiated by the sun
 The fundamental, complex, building blocks
of matter Exposed/Irradiated
 Matter that intercepts & absorbs radiation
Energy
 The ability to do work UV Light
 SI Unit: joules (J)  It causes sunburn
 In Radiology: electron volt (eV)
Ionizing Radiation
Potential Energy  Any type of radiation that is capable of
 The ability to do work by virtue of position removing an orbital electron from the atom
with which it interacts
Kinetic Energy  Examples: x-rays, gamma rays & UV light
 The energy in motion
Ionization
Chemical Energy  The removal of an electron from an atom
 The energy released by a chemical reaction
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Particulate-type Ionizing Radiation

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Electrical Energy  Examples: alpha & beta particles

 The work that can be done when an electron
moves through an electric potential
difference (V)

STEWART C. BUSHONG SUMMARIZED BY: MEYNARD Y. CASTRO

 CHAPTER 1
CONCEPTS OF RADIOLOGIC SCIENCE

SOURCES OF IONIZING RADIATION Fluorescence

 The emission of visible light only during
Natural Environmental Radiation stimulation
 Annual Dose: 300 mrem/yr
 Cosmic Rays: emitted by sun & stars 1901
 Terrestrial Radiation: deposits of uranium,  Roentgen received Nobel Prize in Physics
thorium & other radionuclides
 Internally-deposited Radionuclides: February 1896
potassium-40 (natural metabolites)  He published and produced the first medical
 Radon: largest source x-ray image
 The first x-ray examination
Man-made Radiation
 Annual Dose: 60 mrem/yr DEVELOPMENT OF MODERN RADIOLOGY
 Diagnostic X-rays: largest source (39
mrem/yr) Radiography
 Uses x-ray film & x-ray tube mounted from
NCRP the ceiling
 National Council on Radiation Protection &  Provides fixed images
Measurements
Fluoroscopy
MSCT  Conducted with an x-ray tube located under
 Multislice Spiral Computed Tomography the examination table
 Provide moving images
Medical Applications of Ionizing Radiation
 Annual Dose: 50 mrem/yr X-ray Voltage
 Measured in kVp
DISCOVERY OF X-RAYS
To provide an x-ray beam that is satisfactory
Cathode Rays
for imaging, you must supply the x-ray tube
 Electrons with a high voltage & sufficient electric
current!
Sir William Crookes
 He invented crookes tube
X-ray Current
Wilhelm Roentgen  Measured in mA
 He discovered x-rays
Image Blur
November 8, 1895  Caused: long exposure time
 Discovery of x-rays
 Wurzburg University in Germany Michael Pupin (1896)
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 He demonstrated the use of radiographic

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Barium Platinocyanide intensifying screen

 The fluorescent material used by Roentgen
Charles L. Leonard (1904)
 He demonstrated the use of double emulsion
film

STEWART C. BUSHONG SUMMARIZED BY: MEYNARD Y. CASTRO

 CHAPTER 1
CONCEPTS OF RADIOLOGIC SCIENCE

Thomas A. Edison (1898) 1970

 He developed fluoroscope  PET & CT were developed
 Original Fluorescent Material: Barium
platinocyanide 1980
 Most Recent: Zinc cadmium sulfide &  MRI become an accepted modality
calcium tungstate
MEG
Clarence Dally (1904)  Magnetoencephalography
 The first x-ray fatality
Because of effective radiation protection
William Rollins practices, radiology is now considered a safe
 He demonstrated the first application of occupation!
collimation & filtration

H.C. Snook (1907) Always practice ALARA: keep radiation

 He introduced interrupterless transformer exposures As Low As Reasonably Achievable!
 Snook transformer
Filtration
William D. Coolidge (1913)  It absorbs low energy x-rays
 He introduced coolidge x-ray tube  Aluminum or copper

Radiology emerged as a medical specialty Collimation

because of the snook transformer & the  It restricts the useful x-ray beam
Coolidge x-ray tube!  It reduces scatter radiation
 It improves image contrast
Gustav Bucky (1913)  Example: adjustable light-locating
 He invented stationary grid collimators (common)
 “glitterblende”
Intensifying Screen
Hollis Potter (1915)  It reduces x-ray exposure by more than 95%
 He invented moving grid
Protective Apparel
1921  Lead-impregnated material
 Potter-Bucky grid was introduced  Examples: gloves & apron

Light Amplifier (1946) Gonadal Shielding

 He demonstrated at Bell Telephone  It is used with all persons of childbearing
Laboratories age

1950 Protective Barriers

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 Light amplifier was adapted for fluoroscopy  Lead-lined with a leaded-glass window
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 Example: radiographic control console

1960
 Diagnostic UTZ & gamma camera appeared ARRT
 American Registry of Radiologic
Technologists
STEWART C. BUSHONG SUMMARIZED BY: MEYNARD Y. CASTRO
 CHAPTER 1
CONCEPTS OF RADIOLOGIC SCIENCE

TEN COMMANDMENTS OF RADIATION PROTECTION

1. Understand & apply the cardinal principles of radiation control: time, shielding & distance.

2. Do not allow familiarity to result in false security.

3. Never stand in the primary beam.

4. Always wear protective apparel when not behind a protective barrier.

5. Always wear an occupational radiation monitor and position it outside the protective apron at
the collar.

6. Never hold a patient during radiographic examination. Use mechanical restraining devices
when possible. Otherwise, have parents or friends hold the patient.

7. The person who is holding the patient must always wear a protective apron and, if possible,
protective gloves.

8. Use gonadal shields on all people of child bearing age when such use will not interfere with
the examination.

9. Examination of the pelvis and lower abdomen of a pregnant patient should be avoided
whenever possible, especially during the first trimester.

10. Always collimate to the smallest field size appropriate for the examination.

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STEWART C. BUSHONG SUMMARIZED BY: MEYNARD Y. CASTRO