Processing & Appraising Radiographs

Question 1

Suggest 3 pros of automatic processing.

Answer 1

1. relatively quick (approx 5mins)
2. Safer for the VN as no risks posed by chemicals
3. Better quality than manual.

Question 2

How are waste chemicals disposed of?

Answer 2

They should be collected by an approved contractor. kept in white/blue drums and removed once full.

Question 3

Does computed radiography require a cassette?

Answer 3

yes. this is because cassettes contain an imaging plate (IP) which is equivalent to x-ray film.

Question 4

Suggest a pro of computed radiography.

Answer 4

can be used off-site (use with livestock)

Question 5

Define: scintillation

Answer 5

creating light

Question 6

Explain how you would store and maintain a cassette.

Answer 6

clean the cassette following the manufacturers guidelines.
ensure edges are free from gross contamination before use.

Question 7

Does digital radiography (direct/indirect) require a cassette?

Answer 7

Nope! These use flat panel detectors (can be hardwired/wireless) or charged coupled devices (can be built into the tabletop).

Question 8

suggest some pros of using digital radiography.

Answer 8

can be stored, printed, or even shared with other computers within the same or different practices.
enables the user to improve the image subjectively.

Question 9

What are some factors that make an x-ray image poor?

Answer 9

poor positioning, development issues, incorrect exposure, no labelling, extraneous marks/artefacts…

Question 10

Why should an x-ray be labelled?

Answer 10

otherwise…. hard to relocate the x-rays, cannot be used for the BVA/KC hip score scheme, inability to compare x-rays, cannot locate for referral, difficult to tell positioning.

Question 11

What are some examples of extraneous marks?

Answer 11

hairs inside the cassette, fingernail marks, damage to cassette, roller marks from automatic processors.