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Diagnostic Imaging > Quiz 1 > Flashcards

Quiz 1 Flashcards

1
Q

properties of x-rays

A

a type of electromagnetic radiation, product of electron interactions, travel at the speed of light, invisible, cannot be felt, can penetrate matter, can ionize atoms

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2
Q

energy characteristics

A

composes all electromagnetic (EM) radiations, amount is inversely related to wavelength, unit is electron volt (eV), EM > 15 eV (low) can produce ionization energy in living cells

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3
Q

most diagnostic x-rays

A

in the kilovolt range (keV)

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4
Q

what is an ion?

A

an electron ejected out of its shell

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5
Q

ionization of DNA can result in?

A

increased rate of mutation, rate of abortion/fetal abnormalities, susceptibility to disease, risk of cancer, risk of cataracts

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6
Q

radiation safety: ALARA

A

as low as reasonably achievable

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7
Q

roentgen

A

a unit of exposure

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8
Q

rad/gray

A

a unit of absorbed dose

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9
Q

rem/sievert

A

a unit of dose equivalent

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10
Q

1 rem = ?

A

1,000 mrem

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11
Q

what is the radiation dose limit set by the NRC?

A
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12
Q

T/F: lead protective gear protects you from the primary beam

A

false: lead protective gear only protects against weaker scatter radiation

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13
Q

how are x-rays produced?

A

high speed electrons are hurled at a metal target

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14
Q

what are the main components needed in an x-ray machine?

A

cathode/filament, anode/target, focal spot, generators

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15
Q

cathode/filament

A

electric current is passsed through to generate an electron cloud that is measured in milliamperes (mA)

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16
Q

the filament is made of which material?

A

tungsten

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17
Q

anode/target

A

x-rays are produced here via a voltage potential (Vp) that accelerates the electron cloud towards itself

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18
Q

what are the electrical charges of the cathode/anode?

A

negative at the cathode/positive at the anode

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19
Q

the anode is made of which material?

A

tungsten

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20
Q

what are bremsstrahlung x-rays?

A

slowing or ‘breaking’ of the electrons as they pass the atom

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21
Q

what is so important about kVp and mA?

A

to penetrate an object in order to detect the x-ray on the opposite side of the object, adequate energy and sufficient quantities are needed

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22
Q

what is kVp?

A

quality of the x-ray

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23
Q

what happens when kVp is increased?

A

the energy of the x-ray photon increases and the number of x-rays (due to more interactions within the anode)

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24
Q

what are mA and s?

A

quantity of the x-ray (the product is mAs); the current that passes through the filament

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25
Q

what subsequently happens if the time of x-ray exposure is increased?

A

the number of x-rays produced is also increased

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26
Q

five types of radiation effects?

A

photoelectric effect, compton effect, coherent scattering, pair production, photodisintegration

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27
Q

what is the photoelectric effect?

A

occurs when the x-ray photon (energy) is totally absorbed and no scatter radiation is produced in which characteristic x-rays form (responsible for patient’s absorbed dose)

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28
Q

which effect is the key for the generation of the radiographic image?

A

the photoelectric effect; the probability is proportional to Z^3

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29
Q

in regards to the photoelectric effect, which will have better absorption of x-rays; fat or bone?

A 
bone; following the Z^3 rule:
fat - mostly carbon (C12)
bone - mostly calcium (C20)
12^3 = 1,728
20^3 = 8,000
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30
Q

in regards to the photoelectric effect, what happens if the energy is too high?

A

the effect is reduced, resulting in a loss of contrast with the image

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31
Q

what is compton scattering?

A

it’s similar to the photoelectric effect but the incoming photon energy is not completely absorbed and therefore is responsible for scatter radiation (an orbital electron is ejected and an energy reduced photon continues on)

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32
Q

does compton scattering contribute to the radiographic image?

A

no, but it does contribute to film fogging and exposure to the patient and surrounding participants

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33
Q

how likely is it that compton scattering will occur?

A

the probability is independent of Z, but is proportional to physical and electron density of the object

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34
Q

how is a radiograph produced?

A

when x-ray beams pass through a target (patient) and expose photographic film

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35
Q

what physically makes the radiographic image?

A

exposed photographic emulsion; the x-ray film is similar to photographic film, the emulsion contains silver halide crystals that precipitate as elemental silver (black) when exposed to x-rays, unexposed emulsion is washed away

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36
Q

what factors contribute to the ‘blackness’ of a film?

A

increased kVp, increased mAs, decreased focal spot-film distance, heel effect

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37
Q

how do you increase (double) film blackness?

A

double the mAs or increase kVp by 15%

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38
Q

how do you decrease (half) film blackness?

A

half the mAs or decrease kVp by 15%

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39
Q

in regards to focal spot-film distance, what is the inverse square law?

A

I1/I2 = (d2)^2/(d1)^2

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40
Q

how does changing focal spot-film distance change mAs?

A

mAs is proportional to I

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41
Q

a specific focal spot-film distance is chosen to accomplish what?

A

avoids high mAs and preserves radiographic detail

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42
Q

what is the standard focal spot-film distance?

A

40 to 60 inches

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43
Q

what is the heel effect?

A

due to a portion of the x-ray beam being absorbed by the anode that results in an x-ray beam that is less intense on the anode side than the cathode side

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44
Q

in regards to the heel effect, how should the patient be positioned under the x-ray beam?

A

always place thicker body parts under the cathode side to give a uniform exposure across the radiograph

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45
Q

what factors affect image detail?

A

motion, film speed, focal spot size, focal spot-film distance, object film distance, intensifying screens, grids

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46
Q

what does motion look like on a radiograph?

A

reduced image sharpness

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47
Q

how do you correct a motion artifact?

A

decrease exposure time, use sedation or general anesthesia, use a regular (non-detail) screen/film combination, reduce grid ratio, reduce focal spot-film distance

48
Q

what is the focal spot?

A

a function of the actual size of the cathode and the angulation of the anode surface in which the large filament of the two (the other being the small one) is able to produce a larger number of x-rays (decreases sharpness of the image)

49
Q

what is the object film distance?

A

the distance from the object (patient) to the film; as it increases, magnification occurs and image detail is reduced

50
Q

what is the purpose of the intensifying screen?

A

they convert x-rays into visible light through phosphorescence since the film emulsion is insensitive to x-rays compared to visible light

51
Q

what material are intensifying screens made of?

A

rare earth screens are more efficient at producing visible light

52
Q

what is a grid?

A

a plate containing rows of lead strips that is placed between the patient and the cassette (film and screens) in order to reduce scatter radiation (more rows = more effective but must compensate 2-3x mAs)

53
Q

what is the purpose of a bucky?

A

a device that moves the grid during exposure (since a stationary grid results in lines where the lead strips are)

54
Q

when are grids necessary?

A

scatter radiation increases as patient size increases, but not always necessary; 10 cm use grid

55
Q

what is contrast?

A

the opacity difference between adjacent areas on a radiograph

56
Q

what is the scale of contrast?

A

the number of density gradiations between the lightest radiograph shadow and the darkest radiograph shadow

57
Q

what is meant by an image having a lot of contrast?

A

it has a short scale of contrast; there are only a few shades of grey between the lightest and darkest areas of the radiograph

58
Q

what is meant by an image having a low contrast?

A

it has a long scale of contrast; there are many shades of grey between the lightest and darkest areas of the radiograph

59
Q

how do you achieve a short scale of contrast?

A

high mAs and low kVp

60
Q

when would you want a short scale of contrast on a radiograph?

A

when taking abdominal radiographs

61
Q

how do you achieve a long scale of contrast (also referred to as latitude)?

A

low mAs and high kVp

62
Q

when would you want a long scale of contrast on a radiograph?

A

when taking thoracic radiographs

63
Q

what factors affect contrast?

A

subject contrast, film contrast, fog/scatter

64
Q

what composes subject contrast?

A

thickness, density, atomic number differences, x-ray beam energy

65
Q

what composes film contrast?

A

inherent property of the film

66
Q

in regards to contrast, what composes fog and scatter?

A

the use of grids, avoid high temperature/visible light/pressure, expiration dates

67
Q

how can films be processed?

A

automatic processing, manual processing (developing (deposits), fixing (removes), washing)

68
Q

what are some examples of imaging modalities?

A

radiography, ultrasonography, nuclear scintigraphy, computed tomography, magnetic resonance imaging

69
Q

what is nuclear scintigraphy?

A

the patient is injected with a substance that becomes the source of radiation that is picked up by a dectector (most commonly done to see portosystemic shunts or feline hyperthyroidism)

70
Q

what are roentgen (imaging) signs?

A

a visual clue or signal that is produced by a pathologic change of tissue and may be detected in a medical image

71
Q

what characteristics do roentgen signs hold?

A

size, shape, margin, opacity, number, location

72
Q

what substances can create different opacities on an image?

A

gas, fat, soft tissue/fluid, mineral, metal

73
Q

what errors can occur with test interpretations?

A

false positive and false negative diagnoses

74
Q

what does an error mean for the patient?

A

inappropriate therapy, euthanasia, untreated disease

75
Q

what is the mach phenomenon?

A

mach lines are false white or black lines that appear at sharp boundaries (they are optical illusions that enhance boundaries but can mimic lesions)

76
Q

how does the contrast background effect result?

A

the eye is a poor judgement of absolute brightness

77
Q

how can vision be explained?

A

what the eye sees (reality)

78
Q

how can perception be explained?

A

what the brain sees (how we interpret it); previous experiences influence it and visual signals are compared to memory in which the most likely explanation is ‘seen’

79
Q

what is a contour?

A

perceived when there is change in brightness or color between adjacent objects, can occur without changes (results from mental completion of partial lines to form something expected

80
Q

what are the 5 opacities seen on radiographs?

A

gas, fat, soft tissue/fluid, bone (mineral), metal

81
Q

what determines the opacity?

A

molecular structure, atomic elements, thickness, density, manifested as ‘shades of grey’ on a film or computer monitor

82
Q

what is the summation sign?

A

an area of increased radiopacity (‘whiteness’) occurring when two overlapping objects are in the path of the x-ray beam and are not in contact with one another

83
Q

what is the silhouette sign?

A

margins of two objects cannot be distinguished because of similar opacity and margins are in contact

84
Q

how should radiographs be oriented when viewing them?

A

head to the left, tail to the right, dorsum on top, ventrum on bottom, right side of the patient on the left, left side of the patient on the right (no convention for medial/lateral)

85
Q

how are radiographs named?

A

according to the direction of the primary x-ray beam as it penetrates the area of a body, from point of entrance to point of exit

86
Q

what about oblique or special views?

A

should be named in the same method used in naming the standard views, the angle is measured and then added after the first directional designation

87
Q

what is tomography?

A

a type of imaging that depicts a slice of the body free of superimposition by overlying structures (includes US, CT, MRI)

88
Q

what is a pixel (picture element)?

A

a tiny two dimensional square that represents the average number of a voxel of tissue

89
Q

what is a voxel (volume element)?

A

a three dimensional block of tissue that is represented on an image matrix by the pixel (determined by the product of the pixel size and the thickness of the scan slice)

90
Q

what does a voxel on an MRI represent?

A

the signal intensity that depends on the respective transverse magnetization

91
Q

what does a voxel on a CT represent?

A

the hounsfield unit that depends on the linear attenuation coefficient of tissue

92
Q

when is MRI used?

A

for soft tissue evaluation, requires anesthesia

93
Q

when is CT used?

A

for bone and lung evaluation (gold standard for thoracic metastasis), requires sedation or anesthesia

94
Q

how is a CT image generated?

A

x-rays are attenuated as they rotate around the patient and the computer reconstructs the image using voxels to create the hounsfield unit (HU) to be converted to a grey scale final image

95
Q

what kind of contrast does a wide (1,000) window achieve?

A

long scale of contrast/low contrast, shows all subtle shades of grey

96
Q

what kind of contrast does a narrow (250) window achieve?

A

short scale of contrast/high contrast, helps accentuate subtle differences

97
Q

how are lesions described using CT?

A

hypodense/hypoattenuating - black

hyperdense/hyperattenuating - white

98
Q

which diagnostic imaging technique is the gold standard for checking for metastasis, especially in the thorax?

A

CT

99
Q

what is the normal view of a CT scan?

A

can only image in one transverse plane, other planes are reconstructed

100
Q

what are the advantages of CT compared to conventional x-rays?

A

no superimposition of overlying structures, multiple imaging planes (via reconstruction), superior soft tissue differentiation (fluid vs. soft tissue), manipulation of grey scale, improved lesion detection, guided biopsy possible

101
Q

what are the advantages of CT compared to MRI?

A

normally easier to interpret, faster and cheaper, guided biopsy possible

102
Q

what are the disadvantages of CT?

A

general anesthesia or sedation needed, radiation exposure, limited referral centers, less soft tissue (compared to MRI)

103
Q

name some examples when CT might be used?

A

surgery planning, radiation therapy planning, excellent for diagnosis/ treatment of thoracic metastasis checks, thoracic disease, nasal/oral cavity disease, elbow dysplasia, brain disease (MRI), spinal disease (MRI)

104
Q

what does MRI stand for?

A

magnetic resonance imaging; strong magnet (0.5-3.0 Tesla)

105
Q

how does an MRI machine work?

A

the patient is placed in a strong magnetic field in which protons of hydrogen atoms align with, a pulse is applied to tip over the protons and a signal is released once they relax (measured and converted to a grey scale)

106
Q

how are lesions described using MRI?

A

most lesions result in increased tissue water, the level of the signal is described in terms of intensity
hypointense - black
hyperintense - white

107
Q

what are the T1 characteristics?

A

(hypointense) bone, fluids –> grey matter –> white matter –> fat (hyperintense)

108
Q

what are the T2 characteristics?

A

(hypointense) bone –> white matter –> grey matter –> fat –> CSF (hyperintense)

109
Q

what are the advantages of MRI?

A

best low contrast resolution, no ionizing radiation used, direct multiplanar imaging can be obtained

110
Q

what are the disadvantages of MRI?

A

based on complex physics, cost, time consuming, focal areas should only be imaged, no ferromagnetic metals can be used, anesthesia and monitoring needed

111
Q

name some examples when MRI might be used?

A

neuroimaging (brain/spinal/nerve disease), musculoskeletal disease, tumor staging

112
Q

when is T1 MRI used?

A

best for anatomical overview, fat is bright/free fluid and edema are dark, contrast studies using gadolinium IV which is hyperintense

113
Q

when is T2 MRI used?

A

for diagnosis of pathology, fat is intermediate grey, free fluid and edema are bright

114
Q

what is STIR?

A

inversion recovery images with short TI, fat is selectively suppressed (void signal as black), fat is black/free fluid and edema are white (distinguishes fat from fluids/edema which makes lesions more obvious)

115
Q

what are FLAIR sequences?

A

fluid attenuated inversion recovery, pure fluids are selectively suppressed (void signal as black), fat is grey/white/free fluid is black and edema is white (distinguishes free fluid from edema)

Diagnostic Imaging (1 decks)

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