Other imaging modalities Flashcards
Name 5 advantages of CR/DR
- Greater tolerance
- See wider range of tissues
- Ability to computer-manipulate images
- Space saver
- Cannot lose radiographs
What is the other name for Computed radiography?
Digital radiography
Identify the 2 different types of DR
- Computed Radiography
- Digital Radiography
Is film required in DR + CR?
No
Is this DR or CR?
CR
Name the 4 pieces of equipment used in CR
- Imaging plate
- Cassette
- CR System
- Reader
True or False.
CR be used with + without a Grid
True
What are imaging plates made up of?
Photostimulable phosphor
(A luminescent material that stores X-ray energy and emits light when stimulated by visible light)
What replaced conventional film in CR?
An imaging plate
(IP)
What is an IP stored within?
A Cassette
Where can you place an IP?
Below or Above the table?
Both!
Depends on the practice’s set-up
Within what amount of time must you process an IP in CR?
Within an hour
(ASAP)
How long is the CR process?
1 - 2
minutes
What is an advantage of CR?
It can be viewed + analysed quickly
What should you do to IP daily?
Cleared, as they are very sensitive to scatter radiation!
What is an disadvantage of CR?
Expensive to set-up, intitally for VP
What should you use to clean an IP?
Imaging Plate Cleaner
Explain in 3 steps in basic terms, how CR works?
- During the expossure - the photostimulable phosphor within IP plate stores energy from x-ray photons in a semi-stable (electron trap) creating a latent image
- The cassette is labelled electrionically w/patient details before insserted into reader/digitizer
- IP is rremoved from the cassette automatically by the reader + passes through the rollers
Explain how a CR reader processes the latent x-ray image
- IP plate has photostimulable phosphor which is read by helium-neon laser within the digitizer
- This provides small amount of energy to the electrons in the electron trap
- This allows them to move back to their resting state + therefore release energy in the form of light
- The light produced is collected by a light guide + converted into an AES (Analogue Electrical Signal)
- The AES is amplified by a photomultiplier + digitized by an Analouge converter
- Once the image has recieved the bright light erases the IP + returned to the cassette for re-use
List as many different advantages of CR as possible!
- More sensitive to radiation
- CR plate lowers radiation dose
- Short exposure times
- Reduced saftey area
- Fewer repeat exposuures
- Objects with different thickness on 1 single image
- Faster processing times
- No chemicals are used
- Anaesthetic/sedation time is reduced
- Radiographic study is increased
- Dark rooms are surplus to requirement
- Image quality is greater as no overdevelopment issues
- Images can immediately be reviewed + sent to specialists
- Can be editied or manipulated
- Electronically stored
Give 3 advantages of CR images
- They can be emailed, burnt onto discs + USB sticks
- Can be viewed, edited + manipulated instantly
- Ease of retrieval + storage
Summarise how CR works in 4 basic steps
- Image is stored on radiation sensitive Phosphorous imaging plate
- This is converted into light, through a laser excitation in the CR reader
- This produceds a digital image on a Picture Archiving + Communication System (PACs)
- Can be reviewed + analysed immediately
Is DR expensive to set up?
Yes
Apart from an expensive DR x-ray machine, what else is required for the DR system to work?
An x-ray table
What type of radiography is this?
I am a piece of technology that produces an almost instantaneous image on the display screen without the use of a processing system..
Digital Radiography
I produce electrical signals via an intermediate light phase..
What am I?
In-direct Digital Radiography
I convert x-ray energy directly into a digitized electrical energy..
What am I?
Direct Digital Radiography
What type of radiography is this?
Digital Radiography
Explain the structure of the DR imaging plate
- Flat panel detectors
- Contain a thin film transistor array
- Made of Amorphous Selenium
- Arranged in a matrix
Can CR or DR be wired or wireless?
DR
What is the disadvantage of wired DR over wireless CR?
Wired DR is less flexiable than CR
What are the 2 advantages of wireless DR over CR?
Wireless is:
1. Very easy to use
1. More flexable than CR
List as many benefits of DR as you can
- Produces real-time image
- Highest quality of digital images
- Image is viewable in 1-2 seconds
- Zoom facility allows for magnification of areas
- Allows for maximum resolution - identify minuscule anomalies
- Benefical for othropaedics - can measure slopes of TPL view in theatre
- Changes in animal’s condition + healing process can be accurately viewed
- Immediate conversion of radiation intensity into a digital image
- Benefits similar to CR
- Moral of staff - less time spent on organising paperwork
Identify the 2 types of Direct radiography
- Flat panel system
- Charged Coupled Device system
How does a Flat Panel System work, in DR?
- Detector panel linked to x-ray equipment
- Converts to x-ray energy to lighy
- Then to a digital signal
How does a Charged Coupled Device System work, in DR?
- Fluorescent screen under a x-ray table
- The computer screen is linked to this
What type of plate costs at least double the cost of the CR system?
DR Plates
What are DR plates coated in?
Amorphous Selenium
What are DR plates comparable to?
Large, single, Computer chip
What are DR plates?
Specialised plates that convert light to digital signals - directly - without the use of a reader
What type of plates are these?
DR Plates
What is the cause of Poor Image Contrast in DR?
+
How can you rectify it?
- Uncorrect table algorithim
- Rectified by selecting anatomical area before prrocessing
What is the cause of Alternating bands of dark + Light across the image, which can change in direction or when zoomed in in DR?
+
How can you rectify it?
- Moire
(A wavelike, cloudy or frosted appearance of textile fabrics or metallic surfaces) - Rectified by not using a grid
What is the cause of Lucent halo around orthopaedic device in DR?
+
How can you rectify it?
- Uberschwinger
(An artifact of digital processing that may be mistaken for bone lysi) - Rectified by checking correct algorithm
What is the cause of Linear white line across entire CR image in DR?
+
How can you rectify it?
- Dirt on light guide or CR digitizer
- Rectified by cleaning the light guide following manafacturers guidelines
What is the cause of Grainy appearence, inclusive of areas out with the animal, within the Primary beam in DR?
+
How can you rectify it?
- Underexposure (too light)
- Rectified by increasing the kV +/or mAs
What is the cause of Thinner areas black with no visiable detail in DR?
+
How can you rectify it?
- Overexposure (too dark)
- Reduce exposure factors, different algorithms
What is the cause of White specks on lines/image in DR?
+
How can you rectify it?
- Dirt or hair (artifiact) in or on cassette
- Rectified by cleaning the cassettes regularly, according to manafacturer guidelines
How are DR images viewed?
On a Monitor
What 8 ways can DR images be manipulated?
- Rotation
- Flipping
- Magnification
- Adjustment of density/contrast
- Inversion (black/white)
- Annotation (if forgotten L/R markers)
- Measurements
- Comparison of different images
What format must you send DR images to the BVA?
Digitally, in DICOM format
How should DR images be stored as?
DICOM
(Digital Imaging + Communications in Medicine)
What does DICOM stand for in DR?
Digital Imaging + Communications in Medicine
What does DICOM allow for when viewing images?
Viewed across all modes of imaging, including MRI + CT
How does DICOM allow you to edit/add to DR images?
You can imbedd it with:
* Px details
* Owner details
* Species
* Breed
Name a few ways in which X-ray images can be stored in DR
- CDs
- DVDs
- USB
- Cloud systems/online storage
- Back-ups
Why is additional storage usually required with DR?
Because computers usually have minimal storage
How are DR images stored as?
- DICOM
- Jpegs
What is the online Central Archive used in DR?
Picture Archiving + Communications Systems (PACS)
True or False.
PACS doesn’t save DR images automatically in a secure location, which is only off site
False.
They are automatically saved to a secure location, which can be either on or off site