EXAM #3 Flashcards
What is attenuation?
Reduction in the number or intensity of x-rays as a result of absorption and scattering
Differences in attenuation cause subject contrast
Can x-rays be transmitted without any interaction?
yes
What can x-rays interact with?
- entire atom
- orbital electron
- nucleus of an atom
X-rays interact with the nucleus of an atom at _____ _____ energies
very high energies
What are the five interactions between x-rays and matter
- ) Coherent scattering
- ) Photoelectric (PE) absorption (2° radiation)
- ) Compton scattering
- ) Pair production
- ) Photodisintegration
http: //youtu.be/4p47RBPiOCo
What is secondary radiation?
Radiation produced using the patient’s atoms
What is off-focus radiation?
Radiation produced off the focal spot of the x-ray tube
What is photoelectric absorption?
- More photoelectric absorption at high/low kVp?
- Is photoelectric absorption ionizing?
- The incident electron interacts with and _____ the _____ shell electron
- The incident electron’s energy is divided into…?
What gives us those white areas in our image
- More absorption at a low kVp
- Photoelectric absorption is ionizing
- The incident electron interacts with and ejects the inner shell electron
- The incident electron’s energy is divided into breaking the binding energy and giving off kinetic energy to the ejected electron
When is an ion pair formed, and in what interaction?
- What is the product called?
- What happens to the affected atom?
An ion pair is formed when an electron is ejected from the atom in photoelectric absorption
- It becomes known as the [photoelectron]
- Remaining atom has a vacancy in its inner electron shell
When is photoelectric absorption most likely to occur?
Most likely to occur when x-ray photon has just slightly more energy than Eb of a K or L-shell electron
[*] Photoelectrons are related to what interaction?
Photoelectric absorption
Photoelectron energy can be determined with what equation ?
Ei = Eb + Eke
Ei = energy of the incident photon
Eb = binding energy of the electron
Eke = kinetic energy of the photoelectron
[*] Recoil electrons are related to what interaction?
Compton scatter
What are the three characteristics of a photoelectron?
• Kinetic energy (Eke)
• Mass
• Reabsorbs quickly
- Within 1-2mm of tissue
Three steps to characteristic cascade?
What interaction?
- Vacancy filled by an outer shell electron
- Electron undergoes change in energy level
• Emits characteristic photon
– (secondary radiation)
• Photoelectric
What is secondary radiation?
• When do characteristic photons emit?
Radiation that originates from irradiated material outside of x-ray tube (from the patient’s atoms)
• Characteristic photons emitted from atoms of patient after PE absorption interaction has occurred
_____ of resulting x-ray is dependent on the atomic (Z#) of the material.
Low Z# in tissue = _____ energy secondary radiation
Higher Z# with contrast agents = _____ energy secondary radiation
Energy of resulting x-ray is dependent on the atomic (Z#) of the material.
Low Z# in tissue = low energy secondary radiation
Higher Z# with contrast agents = higher energy secondary radiation
Photoelectric Absorption Condition #1
Incident photon energy (Ei) must be _____ than or _____ to binding energy (Eb) of inner-shell electron
Incident photon energy (Ei) must be greater than or equal to binding energy (Eb) of inner-shell electron
Photoelectric Absorption Condition #2
PE absorption interaction is more likely to occur if:
• Incident photon energy (Ei) and inner-shell electron binding energy (Eb) are _____ to each other
[*] As photon energy increases, chance of PE interaction _____ _____
– _____ _____ relationship (1/E^3)
PE absorption interaction is more likely to occur if:
• Incident photon energy (Ei) and inner-shell electron binding energy (Eb) are close to each other
[*] As photon energy increases, chance of PE interaction decreases dramatically
– Inverse cubed relationship (1/E^3)
Example: 1 / 2^3 = 8
If you double your energy, the probability of absorption goes down to 1/8
Photoelectric Absorption Condition #3
• Increased Z# has a dramatic impact on the amount of PE absorption, with a _____ _____ relationship
• Double Z#
Increase chance of PE absorption interaction by a factor of __.
Kerry: Denser things, things that have higher binding energies are most likely to absorb more
PP: PE absorption interaction is more likely to occur in elements with a higher Z#, and therefore higher binding energy (Eb) of inner-shell electrons
• Increased Z# has a dramatic impact on the amount of PE absorption
– Direct cubed relationship (Z^3)
• Double Z#
Increase chance of PE absorption interaction by a factor of 8.
PE absorption is most influenced by:
A. Subject volume
B. Subject thickness
C. Subject mass density
D. Subject atomic #
D. Subject atomic #
because atomic number is cubed and mass density is proportional
What is Coherent scatter
- Are electrons ejected?
- Does ionization take place?
- High/low energy photons?
- What are the two types and how are they produced?
- What percentage of x-ray interactions in patients? Does this affect our image?
Electrons are excited and vibrate at photon frequency (momentarily bound to orbital electron which excites the atom and is reemitted)
- No electrons are ejected
- No ionization takes place
- Involves low energy photons (below 10 keV)
- Two types with same result:
- Thompson (single outer-shell electron interaction)
- Rayleigh (all electrons of the atom interaction)
• less than 5% Slightly
What is Compton scatter?
- What is formed because of Compton scatter?
- Where is the incident photon’s kinetic energy transferred to?
- Does ionization take place?
- Increasing kVp _____ the likelihood of Compton scatter
- The amount of Compton scatter is _____ proportional to tissue density
- What does Compton scatter create?
Incident photon (Ei) interacts with outer-shell, loosely bound electron and ejects it
- Ion pair is formed
- Incident photon transfers some of its kinetic energy to the recoil (Compton) electron and continues on in a different direction (never leaves patient, and has no affect on image quality)
- Ionization takes place in Compton scatter
- Increasing kVp decreases the likelihood of Compton scatter
- The amount of Compton scatter is directly proportional to tissue density
- Compton scatter degrades image quality with a blanket of exposure called noise
What is the equation for Compton scatter?
Ei = Es + Eb + Eke
Incident photon energy (Ei) is distributed between recoil electron (Eke) and scattered photon (Es)
Energy transferred to recoil electron (Eke) affects angle and energy of scattered photon (Es)
[Compton Scatter]
Recoil electron travels until it…
Scattered photon continue to interact until absorbed _____.
Recoil electron travels until it fills a vacancy in another atom (never leaves patient, and has no affect on image quality)
Scattered photon continue to interact until absorbed photo-electrically
What is backscatter
- What is it’s energy in relation to the incident photon?
- What interaction?
Blast the patient with radiation and it bounces back to you
- 2/3 the energy of the incident photon
- Compton scatter
What is a source of occupational exposure and radiation fog?
Compton scatter
[Pair production]
• Most commonly found in what diagnostic areas?
[*] Incident photon energy must be _____ MeV or higher
• Photon energy absorbed by _____
[*] What is the annihilation reaction?
• Therapy and PET
- Incident photon energy must be 1.02 MeV or higher
• Photon energy absorbed by nucleus
- An electron and positron collide destroying each other and give off energy and mass as 511 keV x-rays
[*] What interaction creates positrons
Pair production
What is photo-disintegration?
[*] What energy level?
- What is released?
- Is it significant in diagnostic imaging?
Absorption of photon by nucleus
[*] Extremely high energy photon (10 MeV or greater)
- Excited nucleus releases alpha particle (2 protons, 2 neutrons)
- Not significant in diagnostic imaging range
[?] Which of the following interaction with matter produce a characteristic x-ray?
A. Pair production
B. Photodisintegration
C. Photoelectric absorption
D. Coherent Scatter
C. Photoelectric absorption
[?] Which of the following interactions with matter does not cause an ionization of the atom?
A. PE absorption
B. Compton’s scatter
C. Coherent scatter
D. All cause ionization
C. Coherent scatter
[?] Which of the following adds to occupational dose?
A. Pairs production
B. Photodisintegration
C. Compton’s scatter
D. Coherent scatter
C. Compton’s scatter
_____ of the x-ray beam is attenuated while _____ of the beam is transmitted.
Most of the x-ray beam is attenuated (90’s%) while some of the beam is transmitted.
As kVp increases the number of photons transmitted without interaction _____
_____ probability of PE absorption and Compton interactions
Vice versa is true, too
As kVp increases the number of photons transmitted without interaction increases
Decreased probability of PE absorption and Compton interactions
Vice versa is true, too
As kVp increases:
PE absorption _____
Compton effect _____
_____ percentage of scatter
_____ percentage of absorption
As kVp increases:
PE absorption decreases
Compton effect increases
Increases percentage of scatter
decreases percentage of absorption
Scatter becomes more problematic at _____ kVp
Scatter becomes more problematic at _____ mAs
Scatter becomes more problematic at higher kVp
Scatter becomes more problematic at lower mAs
Just remember: Scatter is a gray transparency/film over an otherwise good image
Scatter is a gray transparency/film over an otherwise good image
When PE absorption predominates:
Resulting image will have _____ scale contrast
_____ kVp, _____ mAs
When PE absorption predominates:
Resulting image will have short scale contrast (very black and white)
Low kVp, high mAs
[?] Which of the following interactions predominates within diagnostic x-ray energy range
A. Compton’s
B. Coherent
C. PE absorption
A. Compton’s
- The reduction in the number and energy of photons as radiation passes through matter is termed:
a. Irradiation
b. Deflection
c. Photoelectrolysis
d. Attenuation
d. Attenuation
- The production of scatter radiation wen x-radiation strikes an object principally results from:
a. Compton interaction
b. Brem’s event
c. Characteristic event
d. Photoelectric interaction
a. Compton interaction
- The type of interaction in the diagnostic range responsible for the radiographic contrast between soft tissue and bone is:
a. Compton interaction
b. Coherent scattering
c. Pairs production
d. Photoelectric absorption
d. Photoelectric absorption
- At photon energies above 1.02 MeV, the creation of a negatron and a positron may occur in an event termed:
a. Photodisintegration
b. Pairs production
c. Annihilation reaction
d. Van de Graff production
b. Pairs production
- The photoelectric interaction most commonly occurs when the incident photon strikes a/an:
a. Inner shell electron
b. Outer shell electron
c. Protons
d. Neutron
a. Inner shell electron
- The interaction of a x-ray photon and an orbital electron, which results in partial transfer of energy is :
a. Photoelectric effect
b. Pairs production
c. Compton scatter
d. Thomas scatter
c. Compton scatter
- At 70 KeV photon strikes and inner shell electron, all of the photon energy is transferred to the electron. This describes:
a. Coherent scattering
b. Compton scattering
c. Photoelectric effect
d. Photodisintegration
c. Photoelectric effect
- The incoming photon before any interaction with matter takes place is called the:
a. Incident photon
b. Scatter photon
c. Inherent photon
d. Recoil photon
a. Incident photon
- Which of the following interactions contributes to image noise?
a. Brems
b. Characteristic
c. Compton
d. Photodisintegration
e. Photoelectric effect
c. Compton
- Compton scatter is:
a. Independent of Z#
b. Inversely proportional to Z#
c. Proportional to E
d. Proportional to Z#^2
a. Independent of Z#
- The probability that a photon will undergo attenuation:
a. Decreases with increasing energy
b. Increases with decreasing electron energy
c. Increases with increasing electron energy
d. Increase with increasing x-ray energy
a. Decreases with increasing energy
- The photoelectric effect is principally associated with which of the following?
a. Absorption of an x-ray
b. Brems production
c. Characteristic production
d. Scattering of an x-ray
a. Absorption of an x-ray
- During photoelectric interactions:
a. An electron is emitted from an atom
b. An x-ray is emitted from the atom
c. Electron excitation results
d. The atom is made radioactive
a. An electron is emitted from an atom
- A 35 KeV x-ray will most likely undergo a k-shell PE interaction with which of the following?
a. Barium, BE of 37 keV
b. Calcium, BE of 4 keV
c. Iodine, BE of 33 keV
d. Tungsten, BE of 69 keV
c. Iodine, BE of 33 keV
- The probability of the PE effect varies as what function of x-ray energy?
a. E^-3
b. E^-2
c. E
d. E^2
e. E^3
a. E^-3
- A 39 keV photon interacts through PE absorption with a k-shell electron having a BE of 37 keV. Therefore:
a. The photoelectron will have 2 keV of energy
b. The photoelectron will have 37 keV of energy
c. The photoelectron will have 39 keV of energy
d. The scatter x-ray will have 2 keV of energy
a. The photoelectron will have 2 keV of energy
- Differential absorption between bone and soft tissue occurs principally for which of the following reasons?
a. The difference in Z#
b. The difference in mass density
c. The polychromatic x-ray beam
d. The monochromatic x-ray beam
a. The difference in Z#
1.The only non diverging ray in the primary x-ray beam is the __________.
central ray
2.A “latent image” or signal is carried to the receptor by the __________ x-ray beam.
remnant
3.What does OID stand for?
object to image distance
5.Even after the radiographic image is processed and stored, what other type of variables still can alter its quality?
postprocessing
6.Microscopic white spots are produced in the image by which interaction?
photoelectric absorption
7.The ideal conditions for the photoelectric effect to take place are created when the average kV of
incident x-ray photons is __________ than the inner-shell binding energies of tissue atoms.
greater (or equal to)
11.Which of the two major interactions can occur in a series within the patient from a single x-ray photon?
Compton interactions, end in a photoelectric interaction
What is differential absorption?
- Images are the result of __ % of the incident beam reaching the x-ray
- Areas where radiation is transmitted will appear _____.
- Areas of absorption will appear _____.
- Differential absorption is important because it results in _____.
The combination of Compton scatter and photoelectric absorption within the patient
- Images are the result of 0.5 % of the incident beam reaching the x-ray
- Areas where radiation is transmitted will appear dark.
- Areas of absorption will appear white.
- Differential absorption is important because it results in subject contrast.
As kVp increases, the probability of interactions, whether PE or Compton, _____.
As kVp increases, the probability of interactions, whether PE or Compton, decreases.
X-ray transmission is _____ as the mass density increases.
X-ray transmission is reduced as the mass density increases.
Attenuation is exponential/proportional for ticker tissues
• 5cm of tissue reduces x-ray intensity to about _____
Attenuation is exponential for ticker tissues
• 5cm of tissue reduces x-ray intensity to about one-half
Iodine attenuates x-rays _____ than soft tissues and is used for visualization of the patient _____
Iodine attenuates x-rays more than soft tissues and is used for visualization of the patient vasculature
mAs and distance do/don’t affect beam quality
mAs and distance don’t affect beam quality