How to take a good radiograph

Question 1

Requirements for X ray room

Answer 1

quiet
controlled
all the stuff you will need in one spot.

Question 2

What is the tube head of x-ray machine

Answer 2

Where x-rays are generated

Question 3

How are x-rays generated

Answer 3

Electrons are accelerated from the cathode to the anode where they stop suddenly.
The x rays (and heat) are how this energy is released.

Question 4

Where does light come from on x-ray machine and what does it tell us

Answer 4

comes from the light beam diaphragm and tells us where the primary beam is

Question 5

How is the area of the primary beam changed

Answer 5

lead shutters let us increase and decrease area

Question 6

Patient preparation requirement for x-ray

Answer 6

starved,
sedated/GA’d
pee’d and pooped ideally (for abdo)
artefacts removed (dirt on coat, collar on, IV drip line)

Question 7

What is the goal of radiography

Answer 7

A diagnostic image (i.e. an image that accurately represents the anatomy of the patient and allows us to make a diagnosis)

Question 7

What is the goal of radiography

Answer 7

A diagnostic image (i.e. an image that accurately represents the anatomy of the patient and allows us to make a diagnosis)

Question 8

Pneumonic for radiography principles

Answer 8

Pink Camels Collect Extra Large Apples
Position
Centre
Collimation
Exposure
Label
Artefact

Question 9

How do we collimate and why is it important

Answer 9

When we move the lead shutters and make the light (and therefore the primary beam) from the tube head fill smaller or larger areas.

Radiation safety
Reduce scatter and improve image

As the x-ray hits the animal some is absorbed and some is scattered - if more animal/plate/table is available for x-rays to hit you will have more (unnecessary) interactions and therefore more scatter

Question 10

Importance of correct exposure

Answer 10

Correct exposure allows us to visualise the anatomy properly
Over exposure – black?; under exposure – white? Grainy.

Question 11

What is mAs

Answer 11

milliampere second
determines the number of x-ray photons produced (doesn’t affect contrast)
affects INTENSITY only-> more rain

Question 12

what is kV

Answer 12

kilovoltage
determines the number and energy of the x-ray photons (High kV reduces contrast)
affects QUALITY and INTENSITY -> more rain and heavier rain

Question 13

Why are artefacts important

Answer 13

any manmade object in your image e.g. collar, ECG wires, ET tubes (unavoidable) but you can also create artefacts by poor positioning or a problem with the plate e.g. it is scratched
Avoid the avoidable!