Quiz 4: Instrumentation and Quality Assurance Flashcards
what type of mammography generators are all modern mammography generators?
high-frequency
these generators rectify the input to produce a direct currect (DC) voltage waveform
high-frequency generators
what is the difference between modern high-frequency generators and the older units?
the modern high-frequency generators essentially provide a constant potential with about 1% ripple
with the modern high-frequency generators producing higher effective energy, what is the result?
higher x-ray output for a given kVp and mA setting
why can’t general radiography tubes be used for mammograms?
the breast is made up of only soft tissues with very similar mass densities and atomic numbers that are better seen on a modified mammography machine
what is the x-ray range found most useful in maximizing contrast in breast tissue?
in the range of 17-24 kiloelectron volts (keV)
what type of x-rays does a Molybdenum (Mo) target produce?
characteristic in the 17-19 keV range after a photoelectric reaction
what type of breast are ideal to image with a Molybdenum (Mo) target?
fatty breasts
What type of x-rays does Rhodium (Rh) targets produce?
Bremsstrahlung xrays and K-Characteristic xrays
How could you describe the properties of a K-Characteristic X-ray
20-23 range, which provides a better penetration of the dense breast
What type of x-rays Does tungsten targets produce?
Bremsstrahlung x-rays
What are the properties of A tungsten target?
Tungsten targets produce bremsstrahlung x-rays that predominate at energies above or below the 17 to 24 keV range
Which type of target material is often referred to as admitting “harder” spectrum rays?
Tungsten
What is the best target material that is used in mammography units?
Tungsten
A target material that is sometimes more reliable and less expensive to manufacture
Single track tubes
The target material that can support a higher anode heat load, that’s allowing for shorter exposure times compared with dual track x-ray tube’s
Single track x-ray tubes
Is a target material that is especially useful when imaging large breasts
Single track x-ray tubes
At target material that can support 2-3 times the maximum anode load compared with dual track tubes
Single track tungsten tubes
What is beam filtration defined by the
Half-value layer (HVL)
Shapes the emission spectrum of the x-ray beam and makes it compatible with the image receptor in breast characteristics of each patient
Added filtration
With proper use of ______, the x-ray beam entering the breast will have very few photons above or below the preferred mammographic energy range.
Filtration
In digital imaging, what does filtration do to exposure time?
Filtration reduces exposure time
what is the minimun half-value layer (HVL)?
.30 mm (Al) at 30 kVp or .25 mm (Al) at 25 kVp
what should the half-value layer (HVL) not exceed?
.40 mm AL at 30 kVp
what 2 ways is the x-ray beam filtered
inherent and added
what all is included with inherent filtration?
glass/metal window of tube, oil in the tube housing, the mirror of the collimation assembly, and the compression paddle
What material is usually used as added filtration?
Aluminum (Al)
Positioned in the path of the emerging beam, thus affecting it’s penetrating power, which is defined by half value layer
Added Filtration
How often are test me done to ensure that the compression device is working properly?
Semi-annually
What are the MQSA standards for compression paddles
Minimum automatic compression should not be less than 25lbs (111 newtons N)
Automatic compression should never exceed 45lbs (200 N)
All unit should have a manual, hand controlled compression device, controlled by the technologist
What is the most often used material for the exit port of the mammography tube?
Beryllium (Be)
The area that electrons strike on the target
The focal spot
A small effective focal spot means a ________ target area.
Smaller
The target is angled to allow a larger area for the electrons to strike while maintaining a small effective focal spot
Line – focus principle
A small affective focal spot means a ___________ actual focal spot size
Large
Portions of the x-ray beam at the anode side of the table pass through the anode, resulting in a lower intensity beam
Anode Heel Effect
The thickest part of the breast (nearest the chest wall) is positioned at what side of the tube
Cathode
What are the possible anode angle ranges for mammography tubes?
0-16 degrees
What is a comment to tilt for a mammography unit?
6 degrees
What is the SID of a mammography tube?
60-75cm (24-30in)
Decrease in the target angle will the _______ effective focal spot
Decrease
What are the advantages of tube tilt?
Allows smaller target angle, Allows greater anode heating capacity, reduces anode heel effect