RAD Boards Flashcards
projection
It is where the CR enters and exists the patient towards the IR
ex: AP is anterior posterior the CR enters the pt anteriorly and exists posteriorly before it interacts with the IR
Position
How the pt body is placed or the placement of the body part in relation to the IR
Axial
angulation of the x-ray tube
ex: cephalic (head) or caudal (feet)
if you see the feet angle to the feet
Pt is laying on their back
supine
what is the term for laying down?
recumbent
Pt is laying on their stomach
prone
What is the Sims position?
Pt is in left lateral, right leg is moved in front of patient
Trendelenburg
Head is lower then the head
“Toes are higher”
Fowlers
Feet are lower than the head
In a decubitus position the patient is supine what is this referred to?
dorsal
In a decubitus position the patient is prone what is this referred to?
ventral
Pt is in a left lateral decubitus what marker do you put?
Right- always mark the side up
Pt is in a left dorsal decubitus what marker do you put?
Left-mark the side closest to the IR
Plane that divides the body into left and right halves (equal)
Mid sagittal
coronal plane
divides the body into anterior and posterior parts
What does the prefix “mid” refer to when speaking about body planes
means split into equal halves
plane that divides the body into superior and inferior parts
transverse or horizontal
movement away from the center of the body
abduction
movement toward the midline
adduction
Pt is asked to rotate their arm towards the midline of the body what kind of movement is this?
medial rotation
RT positions pt’s arm so that it is moving away from midline
abduction
In a PA chest why do you have the PT roll their shoulders forward
puts the scapulas in a more lateral position which allows better visualization of the lungs
how many ribs must be seen on a PA chest
10 posterior ribs
why is the lateral chest performed on the left
heart dips down to the left and it reduces magnification
where is the CR entrance point for a lateral chest
midcoronal plane at the level of T7
what is the purpose of the lordotic view
shows apices of the lungs
is there a tube angle for lordotic?
No
PT takes a few steps forward while having their back against the board
72 inches
what makes a good lordotic image
clavicles are projected above the apices
clavicles appear to be straight
CR of a lordotic chest
3-4 inches below the jugular notch
PT is leaning backward 15-20 degrees
how many posterior ribs are needed to be seen on an AP portable chest
8-9 posterior ribs
for a sthenic pt the top of the IR for a portable AP chest should be placed
1.5 inches (4cm) superior to the soft tissue of the shoulder
how do you know if there is rotation in an AP portable chest
asymmetrical ribs and clavicles
what is the SID for lateral view of a soft tissue neck?
72 SID
ensure that the top of the light field is above the EAM
what is a diagnostic lateral soft tissue neck?
air filled trachea from the pharynx to the midthoracic region
what is the CR for AP soft tissue neck?
1 inch superior to jugular notch
what is the carina associated with?
bifurcation of the trachea
how should the Vascular markings of the lungs appear on a PA chest
should appear thin in the superior portion of the lungs
what health condition demonstrates absence of the diaphragm contour and blunting of the CP angles
pleural effusion
which abnormalities are found in a pt with CHF?
enlarged cardiac size
pulmonary edema
types of radiation measurements
radiation in the primary beam
leakage radiation
amount of radiation absorbed by the pt
amount of radiation absorbed by the healthcare provider
what is leakage radiation measure?
the amount of secondary radiation escaping the x-ray tube
what are the common radiation measurements?
exposure
air KERMA
absorbed dose
equivalent dose
effective dose
what are the two categories of radiation measurement?
air and tissue
what does the radiation in air measure?
measures the radiation intensity
what are the units used to measure radiation intensity (air)
exposure
air KERMA
what does the radiation in tissue measure?
measures dose
what are the measurements used to determine the effects of radiation on tissue?
absorbed
equivalent
effective
how is the intensity of the X-ray beam measured?
exposure
air KERMA
tells us how radiation is coming out of the x-ray tube
how is the leakage radiation from the tube measured?
exposure
air KERMA
how is the INITIAL dose the healthcare provider and pt receive called?
absorbed dose
what does absorbed dose tell us?
absorbed energy
short term effects-skin erythema or hair loss
does NOT do a good job of detecting long-term effects such as cancer
effective dose
solely used to detect long-term effects such as cancer
not used to calculate short-term effects and absorbed energy
if mA is increased what happens to intensity, exposure KERMA, and absorbed equivalent, effective doses?
it increases everything because each calculation is influenced by the same variables
radiation in the air is measured by
exposure
Air KERMA
absorbed dose measures
radiation in tissue
equivalent dose measures
effects of radiation on tissue
what does ESE stand for
entrance skin exposure
ESE measures
the intensity or quantity of radiation in air at the level of the patient’s skin
DAP is used to measure
the total amount of radiation delivered to the patient from diagnostic imaging equipment
if kvp is increased what happens to intensity, exposure KERMA, and absorbed equivalent, effective doses?
it increases everything because each calculation is influenced by the same variables
if distance is increased what happens to intensity, exposure KERMA, and absorbed equivalent, effective doses?
results in the decrease of all the values due to the inverse square law
how does a decrease in kvp affect the absorbed dose to the pt?
decrease in kvp affects the absorbed dose
it also decreases the average energy of the x-ray beam and the total number of photons created
fewer photons means less dose is absorbed by the pt
what are the three types of methods used to quantify radiation in tissue
effective dose
absorbed dose
equivalent dose
radiation that escapes the protective housing of the tube is known as what?
leakage
what is another form of secondary radiation?
scatter
how is scatter produced?
Compton scattering
what is attenuation
is a loss of intensity of the X-ray beam as it passes through matter
what is considered primary radiation
radiation that:
- produced within the pt
2.scatter from interactions within the pt - that escapes the protective housing
- exits the window in the tube housing
radiation that exits the window in the tube housing
what does an X-ray beam interact with as it interacts with matter?
interact with air molecules and knock out an electron out of its orbit
ionization
what does exposure measure?
the number of ionizations in air
how is the X-ray beam’s intensity measured?
through exposure
increase in the x-ray beam leads to the increase of what?
ionizations and exposures
the number of ionizations is directly proportional to what?
number of photons in the x-ray beam
this is the reason why if ionization is increased then exposure (the number of ionization in the air) will increase too
what are the units of exposure?
coulombs/kilogram
what does Coulombs measure?
measures charged particles
1 coulomb is equal to what?
6.242x10^18 ionizations
if mA is increased what happens to photons, ionization, exposure
all increased because the same variables influence all the calculations
if distance is increased what happens to photons, ionization, exposure
all decrease because the same variables influence all the calculations and due to the inverse square law
what does air KERMA measure
measures the energy of ionizations in the air
what does KERMA stand for
kinetic
energy
released per unit
mAss
if the intensity of the beam is increased what happens to ionization energy and air kerma
it increases
what are the units for kerma?
gray
what does 1 gray equate to
1 joule/kilogram
you can use exposure and air kerma to measure
test radiation coming from the tube
measure leakage radiation
measure scatter radiation
how is exposure different from air kerma?
measures only the # of ions in the air
units are coulombs/kilogram
how is air kerma different from exposure?
measures the energy of ions
units are gray
when measuring the intensity of the primary beam what dosimeter position will demonstrate the highest air kerma
the measurement that is closest to the tube
primary bi-product of x-ray interactions in air is
free electrons
the process that x-rays created charged particles such as free electrons
ionization
which of the following best describes radiation exposure
quantity of radiation:
- directed at the pt
- absorbed in the pt
- Passing through the pt
- energy absorbed in the air
quantity of radiation directed at the patient
some of the radiation is absorbed by the tissues of the body where does some of this energy go?
it is absorbed in the photoelectric effect and Compton scattering
what is the total amount of energy absorbed in the body as a result of Compton scattering and photoelectric effect is known as?
absorbed dose
what is the definition of absorbed dose?
energy absorbed in the body per unit mass
remember to think of its units
joule=energy
kilogram=mass
The SI unit of measurement for absorbed dose
gray
radiation effects on tissue
equivalent dose
effective dose
absorbed dose formula
joules/kilograms
what effects does the equivalent dose take into account?
the effects of different radiation types have on anatomy
the type of radiation with the highest equivalent dose
alpha radiation = 2EqD
what is the effective dose used for?
used to assess the degree of radiation including biological damage per different tissue types
what tissue has the lowest tissue weighting factor?
brain (0.01)
what is the weighting factor for X-ray?
1
why is the absorbed dose used?
it is used to predict short-term or early radiation injuries
examples of short-term radiation injuries
sperm depression
skin erythema
epilation
what kind of tissues absorb more radiation
tissues that have
a high atomic number
high density
when looking at a radiograph what do the dark areas represent?
low absorbtion of the x-ray
means it has low z# and low density
what are examples of tissues that absorb a minimal amount of radiation?
tissues that have air
fat
what is an example of a tissue that absorbs a moderate amount of radiation (appears gray on a radiograph)
muscle
what is the absorbed dose affected by?
mA
kVp
distance
density and z#
what is the definition of linear energy transfer?
the rate at which radiation energy is deposited in matter
what causes more biological harm?
higher LET
true or false X-rays have a high LET
false
true or false alpha particles have a high LET
true
what is the formula for an equivalent dose?
EqD=D(absorbed dose) xWr (radiation weighting factor)
what happens to relative biological effectiveness, radiation weighting factor, and equivalent dose if LET is increased?
everything is increased
what is the purpose of the equivalent dose?
used to compare the biological damage from different radiation types
factors that affect equivalent dose?
radiation type
absorbed dose
mAs
kVp
exposure time
distance
units for equivalent doses?
sierverts
the formula for effective dose
EfD= D (absorbed dose) x Wr (radiation weighting factor) x Wt (tissue weighting factor)
the most sensitive tissue to radiation is
bone marrow
the least sensitive tissue to radiation is
brain
why are the values of effective dose and equivalent dose different despite having the same value of absorbed dose?
tissues have different sensitivities to radiation therefore they have different tissue weighting factor
what is another term for effective dose?
whole body dose
why would we use an effective dose?
to compare the risk of cancer based on different radiation types and tissue types
identify long-term effects of radiation exposure
factors that affect effective dose?
absorbed dose
radiation type (Wr)
tissue type (Wt)
mAs
kVp
distance
what do you do if a question asks you to calculate the effective dose when there are two different types of tissues?
you add the values up and then multiply by the absorbed dose and radiation weighting factor
what factors are needed to calculate an effective dose?
absorbed dose
exposed tissue types
radiation type
true or false the skin is sensitive to radiation
false
the risk of radiation-induced stochastic effects is reduced by adherence to which of the following dose limits?
effective dose limits to the whole body
why are vital signs important in medical imaging?
helps evaluate the critical functions of the body
what is the normal temperature for an adult?
98.6 (oral)
how many degrees difference is the tympanic temperature?
+1
how many degrees of difference is the axillary temperature?
-1
how many degrees difference is the rectal temperature?
+1
what is the pulse rate?
the number of pulses per minute
what is pulse amplitude?
signifies the strength of the pulse
what is the average pulse rate?
60-100bpm
what is the definition of blood pressure?
The lateral force exerted on the arterial walls.
what is the average blood pressure of a healthy adult?
systolic (contraction)=100 to 120
diastolic(relaxing)= 60-80
what is the definition of respiratory rate?
is the number of breath cycles (inspiration and expiration) per minute
what is the average respiratory rate?
12-20 breaths per minute
what tool is used to measure oxygen saturation in the blood?
pulse oximeter
what is the normal percentage of oxygen saturation?
90-100%
which blood pressure reading is associated with the left ventricle?
systolic
what should a technologist do if you identify an abnormal viral sign in a pt?
stop the procedure
help stabilize the pt
call for help
the diastolic bp is a measurement of the pressure exerted on the arterial walls during
relaxation of the left ventricle
In a trauma situation which two arteries are best for assessing a pt pulse due to their larger size?
carotid
femoral
what is an EKG?
it is an electrical image of the heart
what is the P-wave in an EKG?
represents the electrical activity through the atria
what is the QRS complex?
movements of electrical pulses through the ventricles
aka ventricular systole
what is the ST segment?
shows the ventricles contracting but no electrical activity is flowing through it
what is the T-wave?
shows when the ventricles are resetting electrically and preparing for their next muscle contraction aka ventricular diastole
when is ekg used in medical imaging?
EKG gating
it allows images of the heart without motion blur and images are collected in between beats
the first phase of contraction of the heart involves the contraction of the
right and left atria
from the ventricles, blood is pushed
into the pulmonary artery and aorta
how many leads are connected to the pt during an EKG
3
what are the two types of lab testing that are used in diagnostic imaging?
kidney function
blood clotting
what is BUN?
blood, urea, nitrogen
normal: 7-21
What kind of health condition is associated with a BUN above 21
means the kidneys are struggling to function properly
What kind of health condition is associated with a BUN above 50
suspected renal failure
do not give intravenous contrast
what is creatinine?
chemical byproduct of metabolism (muscles)
normal: 0.7-1.5
creatine value of 1.5 indicates
pt kidney cant filter iodinated contrast
what factors affect the value of creatinine?
age
gender
muscle mass
hydration status
why is identifying creatinine levels important in diagnostic imaging?
can be a contraindication for injecting IV contrast
ONLY when the level is HIGH
what is GFR
glomerular filtration rate
estimates the filtration of the kidneys
normal: 90-120
what does a GFR level below 90 indicate?
pt kidney is not properly functioning to filter out the contrast
what factors affect GFR?
age
gender
muscle mass
hydration status
what is a pt test?
prothrombin time measures the liquid portion of blood to clot
normal: 11-13.5s
what contraindication is associated with a patient whose pt is above 13.5s
patient’s blood is not clotting properly
what is a ptt test?
partial thromboplastin time
normal: 25-35s
what is an INR test?
international normalized ratio
identifies blood coagulation
normal: 0.8-1.2s
what is the platelets test?
identifies blood coagulation
normal: 150k-400k
what does a high platelet count indicate?
clotting disorders
what does a low platelet count indicate?
bleeding disorders
what are the contraindications for interventional or invasive procedures?
PT
PTT
INR
platelets
what are the contraindications for intravenous contrast?
BUN
Creatinine
GFR
what information would a GFR test provide?
rate at which the kidneys filter waste from the blood
true or false water-soluble iodine is the only contrast that is considered safe for IV injection
true
what is an ionic contrast?
when placed in a solution it breaks up into ions (charged)
NOT desirable
why is ionic contrast not desirable?
due to charged particles, it is highly toxic
high osmolarity
what does the term osmolarity refer to?
concentration of particles in a solution
what factors should be taken into account before a pt is given contrast?
diet
renal function
allergy premedication
what are the diet factors pts need to take into account before contrast injection?
pre-hydrated for 1 day
NPO for 1 hour
post hydration 1 day- reduces the toxicity of contrast
what lab tests need to be done before IV contrast injection?
BUN
creatinine
GFR
what are some medications that are used for pt who have an allergy to iodine?
corticosteroid (prednisone)
anti histamines (benadryl)
what is the most common complication of IV contrast injection?
extravasation- leakage of contrast outside the vessel
what can the pt experience when there is extravasation?
swelling
burning
tightness
what do you do if there is extravasation present?
inform radiologist
elevate the extremity
hot and cold compress
what are some common allergic reactions to contrast (mild)
scattered hives
pruritus
rhinorrhea
coughing
what do you do if a pt is experiencing a mild reaction?
monitor 20-30 mins
monitor vital signs
antihistamines
what are examples of a moderate reaction?
diffuse hives
persistent vomiting
laryngeal edema
tachycardia
what do you do if a pt is experiencing a moderate reaction?
monitor pt
vital signs
IV access
antihistamines
what are examples of a severe reaction?
altered mental status
pulmonary edema
laryngeal edema
tachycardia
what do you do if a pt is experiencing a severe reaction?
code blue
epinephrine
what is nephrotoxicity?
decrease in renal function following contrast administration
risk is increased if there are past renal issues
what drug is administered to a pt who is experiencing an allergic reaction to iodinated contrast?
diphenhydramine
why is barium a common contrast agent?
high atomic number (56)
allows for a higher attenuation
is barium sulfate water soluble?
No
what is it called when barium is introduced into the GI tract?
enteral
what is it called when barium is introduced outside the GI tract?
parenteral
intrathecal
intra-articular
intravenous
is barium sulfate water safe for parenteral injections?
no
what do you do if there is a perforated bowel in the GI tract?
do not use barium
only use water-soluble iodinated contrast
what is the CR for RAO sternum?
center at T7 and 1 inch from the midsagittal plane
what is the recommended SID for an RAO view of the sternum?
30 inches
how much rotation is needed for an RAO view of the sternum?
15-20 degrees
in a ribs series for a PA view where do you pout the affected side?
place anterior injuries or affected side close to the IR
What is the SID for a rib series?
40 inches
what is the CR for AP lower ribs?
on the midsagittal plane midway between the xiphoid process and the lower rib margin
what ribs need to be included in the lower rib view?
ribs 8-12
what ribs need to be included in the upper rib view?
ribs 1-10
what is the SID for oblique upper ribs?
72 inches
what is the CR for oblique upper ribs?
midway between the jugular notch and xiphoid process then move towards the lateral side in question
what is the purpose of doing oblique ribs?
shows the posterior portion
what is the appropriate placement of the top of the IR for an AP above ribs?
1.5-2 inches above the shoulder
which two views of the following would best demonstrate a pt who is experiencing left anterior rib pain?
PA of the affected side
RAO
what needs to be demonstrated on a diagnostic AP KUB
lower diaphragm
pubic symphysis
soft tissue anatomy within the abdominal cavity
For AP upright KUB how is the midsaggittal plane positioned?
perpendicular to the IR
what is a diagnostic dorsal decubitus KUB?
free of motion
superimposed ilia
lumbar vertebrae pedicles and open intervertebral foramina
what is the CR for dorsal decubitus KUB?
2 inches above the crest
when performing a decubitus KUB why do you need to place the pt on a radiolucent pad? (PT is a on a stretcher)
elevates the pt off the stretcher or x-ray table. Ensures that the side down is included in the radiograph
why are KUBs ordered?
tube and line placement
abdominal pain
kidney stones
what is the most distal portion of the small bowel?
ileum
which quadrant is the gallbladder found in?
RUQ
which organ is positioned transversely across the upper abdomen?
pancreas
what is a series circuit?
a circuit where all the lines are connected end to end in a line
What is the difference between a series and a parallel circuit?
series circuit has one line and the current flows in one direction and is constant but the voltage drops at each resistor.
parallel circuit has multiple sections that break off from the main circuit. The current is not constant but the voltage is
pro of series circuits?
uses simpler wiring
easier detection of faults in a circuit
cons of series circuits?
if one component stops working then the entire circuit stops working
total current forumla
- the total current in a series current is the same as any current through any resistor
I(t)=I(1)=I(2)=I(3)
this is because the current flows in one direction
- total resistance is equal to the sum of all individual resistances
Rt=R1+R2+R3
voltage drop
voltage changes at each resistor
total voltage
Vt=V1+V2+V3
what is Ohm’s law?
V(voltage)=I(current) x R(resistance)
the resistance of electric flow through a circuit is measured in
ohm
a series circuit is a circuit in which components are connected.
to the power source end to end in a line
in a series circuit, all resistors share what?
the total voltage of the circuit
in a series circuit question when it asks what is the total voltage how do you solve the problem?
multiply the Amps to each of the resistances and then add their values together
in a series circuit question when it asks what is the total resistance how do you solve the problem?
you just add up all the resistance
what is a parallel circuit?
network of electrical components each connected to the power source by a different path
maintains the consistent voltage across the circuit
if a component fails in a parallel circuit what happens?
the circuit continues to operate but because each component is connected to the power separately
formula for calculating total resistance in a parallel circuit
1/rotal resistance(Rt)=1/R1 + 1/R2 + 1/R3
in a parallel circuit does voltage fluctuate across the circuit?
no
which of the following measurements remains constant in a parallel circuit?
volts
what is the purpose of Ohm’s law?
describes the relationship between voltage, resistance, and current within an electrical current
what does Ohm’s law state?
current is directly proportional to voltage and inversely proportional to resistance
what is voltage
the force that pushes electrons through a circuit
what is resistance
the force that slows down electrons in a circuit
what is current?
the rate at which electrons flow through the circuit
what is the voltage formula?
V= I x R
what is the resistance formula?
R= V/I
what is the current formula?
I= V/R
what is the relationship between current and voltage according to Ohm’s law?
as current increases, voltage increases
what is the relationship between current and resistance according to Ohm’s law?
as current increases, resistance increases
in a series circuit, all resistors share which of the following
the total voltage of the circuit
what remains constant in a series circuit
current
The name of the first X-ray tube?
Crookes tube
The modern X-ray tube is based on this type of tube.
Coolidge tube
leakage radiation must fall below this number
100m Roentgens /h at one meter (3.2 feet) from the tube
The charge of the cathode
negative
the charge of the anode
positive
the glass envelope of the X-ray tube is composed of
Pyrex glass
the filaments are located within
the focusing cup
the lowest kv setting possible for producing characteristic radiation
69 kvp
what is the purpose of the cathode?
creates free electrons through thermionic emission
what is the purpose of the anode?
absorbs electrons and creates X-rays
what is the purpose of the glass envelope?
creates an air-free vacuum around the cathode and anode
prevents the tube from blowing up or corroding
what is the glass envelope made out of?
borosilicate glass (pyrex), metal, or ceramic
what is the purpose of the tube housing?
prevents X-rays from being emitted throughout the exam room
how much leakage radiation does the tube housing need to keep?
maximum (0.88 mGy/hr)
what is the effective limit of mA that can be used?
1000
what is it called when a cathode tube has 2 filaments?
dual focus
what is the purpose of the small filament (cathode)?
creates a tight and very narrow X-ray beam which allows for high spatial resolution
small mA
used on small anatomy
small exposures
A narrow electron beam increases what?
spatial resolution
what are the benefits of stationary anode?
simple design
used for low exposures
what are the cons of stationary anode?
low heat capacity
benefits of a rotating anode?
high heat capacity
high exposures
what is responsible for rotating the anode?
induction motor
induces the anode to spin
what is the induction motor composed of?
2 stators- electromagnets that help turn the rotor
rotor- rotating tube shafe attached to the anode disc
bearings- low friction spheres that allow for free rotation of the rotor
the term space charge within the X-ray tube refers to
free electrons
what are the two interactions that occur on the anode and are responsible for the creation of X-ray photons?
bremsstrahlung radiation and characteristic radiation
what is the principal advantage of using the large filament within a dual-focus X-ray tube?
increased heat capacity
The typical angulation of the anode is between
6 to 20 degrees
what is the purpose of the anode angle?
increases the surface area of the focal spot which increases the ability of the anode to absorb heat
decreases focal spot size which increases spatial resolution
what are the cons of the anode angle?
causes a variant of the beam intensity
higher intensity on the cathode side rather than the anode
what is the anode heel effect?
decreased x-ray beam intensity on the anode side of the beam
as the anode angle decreases heat dissipation
decreases
as the anode angle decreases the heel effect
increases
as the anode angle increases spatial resolution
decreases
as the anode angle increases the surface area
increases
beam intensity is greatest closer to
cathode
It is recommended to place the abdomen under the ________ side of the x-ray tube
cathode
As SID increases, the heel effect
decreases
As field size increases, the anode heel effect
increases
how can the anode heel effect be used as an advantage?
In a KUB for example place the thinnest portion of the patient under the anode side of the beam this allows for a more even exposure of the IR
the anode heel effect is defined as a variation in which of the following?
beam quality across the X-ray field
the use of an X-ray tube with a large anode angle results in
increased
focal spot size
heat capacity
the use of an X-ray tube with a large anode angle results in
decreased:
focal spot size
heat capacity
True or false the cathode side always have a higher intensity than the CR?
true
what is a potential negative consequence of an increased anode angle?
increased effective focal spot
what happens if the anode angle decreases?
effective focal spot decreases and the heel effect increases
what is the line focus principle?
relationship between the actual focal spot on the anode and the effective focal spot that extends from the anode
what does the line focus principle affect?
heat capacity, spatial resolution, and beam coverage
what is the actual focal spot?
located on the anode
the physical area where electrons are converted into X-rays
what is the effective focal spot?
the width of the X-ray beam as it is projected at the patient
what does an effective focal spot influence?
affects the creation of penumbra and spatial resolution
what does a small effective focal spot allow for?
decrease penumbra
increase spatial resolution
what are the pros of having a smaller anode angle?
very narrow effective focal spot
well aligned beam
high spatial resolution
what are the pros of having a smaller anode angle?
reduces the size of the actual which means more concentrated heat
smaller exposure factors
smaller field size (beam coverage)
when would you use a small anode angle?
extremity imaging
dental
mammography
when would you use a large anode angle?
large exposure techniques and large field size
ex: spine, KUB, pelvis
does off-focus radiation increase patient dose?
yes because it exposes the pt outside the collimated area
does off-focus radiation reduce spatial resolution?
maybe processed as part of the image resulting in decreased spatial resolution
caused by failure of histogram analysis
how would you fix off-focus radiation?
use post-shuttering to eliminate any miss exposed areas
how does off-focus radiation occur?
occurs when electrons collide with tube components outside of the focal spot
which component of the X-ray tube contains the focal spot?
anode target
during the histogram process, the computer may identify off-focus radiation as
values of interests
what areas should be shuttered? (off-focus radiation)
bright white
collimator shadows
what does tube loading refer to?
refers to the heat created within the X-ray tube
what is the equation for heat units?
kvp x mAs x w
w=wave form factor
what is the purpose of a tube rating?
refers to max exposure allows exposure factors can be safely used without overheating the tube (kvp, mAs)
what are the tube loading factors?
exposure time
anode angle
filament size
anode rotation speed
if the exposure time was increased and the mA was decreased what happens to the heat capacity?
it increased due to the longer exposure time which gives it more time to dissipate heat
what is the waveform factor for a 3-phase six pulse x generator?
1.35
you can reduce the chance of excessive heat production and X-ray tube damage by modifying the
filament size
what is the purpose of the anode cooling chart?
time before taking another exposure (mAs)
when using a large anode angle this results in
increased focal spot (larger)
increased heat capacity
what is contrast?
visible difference in brightness between two adjacent areas in the image
an image with a large number of BLACK and WHITE shades
high contrast
short grayscale
an image with many shades of grey
low contrast
long grayscale-more white or grey
short scale
high contrast
less shades of gray
the material used for strips in grids
lead (most common)
tungsten
platinum
what affects image contrast?
kVp and grids (procedural factors)
patient factors (size and pathology)
computer processing
post-processing
monitordisplay caibraation