Radiography Flashcards
What is the atomic structure?
Proton
Neutron
Electrons
What charge does a proton carry?
+1
What charge does a neutron carry?
neutral
What charge does an electron carry?
-1
What is the binding energy of shell K (s)
70 keV
What is the binding energy of shell L (p)
12 keV
What is the binding energy of shell M (d)
3keV
What is the general rule for protons and electrons?
They are the same
How do you calculate atomic mass?
Protons + neutrons
What is the definition of ionisation?
The loss of an electron requiring energy to be used
What is the definition of radiation?
Emission and propagation of energy in the forms of waves or particles
How do ionising radiation produce ions?
removing an electron
Which radiation types can ionise atoms?
alpha and beta particles
gamma rays
What is the definition of radioactivity?
Unstable atoms which decay, an imbalance in protons and neutrons
Nucleus can’t generate enough binding strength
What forms can radioactivity be released as?
Alpha: 2 protons and 2 neutrons
Beta: fast moving electrons
gamma ray: high energy electromagnetic radiation
What is the definition of electromagnetic radiation?
The propagation of wave like energy through space or matter. Bundles of energy called photons travels as a wave, but in a straight line
Explain how the x-ray tube create x-rays?
- Filament is heated producing a cloud of electrons
- Potential difference across tube accelerates the electrons at high speed towards the anode
- Electrons bombard the target, then brought to rest fast, energy transferred to heat and x-rays
- heat removed by copper bar and oil
- x-rays emitted via small window in the lead casing creates beam
In which direction do electrons travel?
From cathode to anode
How to increase the necessary voltage needed to power a x-ray machine?
A step-up transformer
number of coils increase the step-up need
What are the 2 forms of heat being produced during ionisation?
The incoming electron is deflected by the outer electron shell creating heat
The incoming electron collides with the outer shell of electrons displacing the electron creating heat
What type of spectrum does 1-3 electron give?
Continuous
Braking radiation
Needs a filter to remove low energy photons
What type of spectrum does 4 electron give?
Characteristic
What is the definition of intensity?
Quantity of x-ray photons in the beam - current
WHat is the definition of quality?
The energy carried by the x-ray photon - voltage
What factors affect the intensity/quality of the beam?
Tube voltage Tube current Distance from target Time length of exposure Filtration Target material Tube voltage waveform
What rule do x-ray beams obey?
Inverse square law
What is the definition of kVp?
Changing this laters the force with which the electrons are drawn from the cathode to the anode
What changes if the kVp is reduced?
Gives better contract but higher tissue absorption (photoelectric effect predominates)
What changes if the kVp is increased?
Reduced attenuation in matter
Decreases contrast
Increases dose but not linearly (compton scatter)
What is the definition of mA?
Changing the current alters the number of electrons on the cathode which can be drawn to the anode (beam intensity)
What changes if the mA is increased?
Increases beam intensity, this can reduce image noise and improve radiographic contrast but does increase dose proportionally
What is the equation of the inverse square law?
Intensity = 1/d2
d = distance from source
e.g. in air, doubling the distance from an x-ray source reduce intensity to 1/4
How can radiation cause damage?
Damage DNA directly or indirectly
How does radiation damage DNA directly?
Radiation interacts with the atoms of a DNA molecule or another cell component
Gives off 33eV, therefore able to break a C-C bond (4.9eV)
How does radiation damage DNA indirectly?
Radiation interacts with water in the cell, producing free radicals which can induce damage
What types of damages can occur to the DNA?
Single break
Double break
Chemical change
What factors will change the biological effect caused by the radiation?
Type of radiation
Tissue or type of cell
Dose
Dose rate
What tissues are considered highly radiosensitive?
Lymphoid tissue Bone marrow GI epithelium Gonads Embryonic tissues
What tissues are considered moderatly radiosensitive?
Skin Vascular endothelium Lung Kidney Liver Lens
What tissues are considered lowly radiosensitive?
Salivary glands
CNS
Muscle
Bones/Cartilage
What is the definition of deterministic radiography effects? and signs?
High radiation dose received over a short time
Skin erythema, sterility and tissue necrosis
What is the definition of stochastic radiography effects? and future effects?
Low doses received over a prolonged period
Cancer, leukemia and genetic effects
What are the 4 possible fates of x-rays?
Absorption
Transmission
Scattering
Attenuation
Why can absorption be bad?
Photoelectric effect
Most likely to cause harm to tissues
Explain the photoelectric effect?
Low energy photons
Incoming photons interact with bound inner shell electron, which is ejected with high energy called the photoelectron into tissue
The ejected photoelectron behaves like other x-rays, and ejects other photoelectrons, which creates the majority of ionisation interactions, which can cause damage
The vacancy of the inner electron shell is filled by the outer electron shell, forming a low energy radiation
Atomic stability is restored by capture of a free electron
Explain the Compton effect?
High energy photons
Incoming x-ray photon interacts with free or loosely bound outer shell electron
Outer shell electron is ejected - Compton recoil electron - with loss of energy, undergoing further ionisation interactions within tissues
Remained of incoming photon is scattered from original path as a scattered photon
The scattered photon may undergo further compton interactions, photoelectric interactions and escape tissues via scatter
Atomic stability is regained after capture of anther free electron
What is essential for the photoelectric effect to occur?
The energy of the incoming x-ray photon must be equal to or greater than the binding energy of the inner shell electron
How does tissue density affect number of electron shells?
As tissue density increases, the number of electron shells increase, with a corresponding increase in binding energy at the inner shell
How to work out the probability of photoelectric reactions occuring?
Proportional to Z (atomic number)3 (cubed)
How is contrast produced between tissues?
As they have different radiodensities
What do intensifying screen use to convert x-rays to light? and what is it sued for?
Photoelectric effect
Extra-roal work
What is essential for the Compton effect to occur?
The energy of the incoming x-ray must be much greater than the binding energy of the outer shell electron
Why does the Compton effect not depend on the atomic number?
As it is an outer electron, and so does not contribute to the contrast of the image
What contributes to image degradation?
High energy scattered photons produce forward scatter
Low energy scattered photons produce back scatter
What do the Photoelectric and Compton effect result from?
Ionisation of tissues
What are the 4 major guidelines for radiographic radiation usage?
Radiographic standards in primary dental care
Dental practitioners on the safe use of X-ray equipment
Selection criteria for dental radiographs
Safe use of dental cone beam CT equipment
Explain the linear no-threshold model for radiographic radiation?
Increasing the dose with increase the change of side effects
Any dose can give side effects
Effect is directly proportional to dose at all dose levels
What are the side effect risk of causing fatal cancer from an intra-oral x-ray?
1:4,000,000
What are the side effect risk of causing fatal cancer from an OPG?
1:2,000,000
What are the side effect risk of causing fatal cancer from staff standing 1.5m away?
1:67,000,000
What is the definition of a radiation absorbed dose?
A measure of the amount of energy absorbed from the radiation beam per unit mass of tissue and can be measured using a dosimeter (not reflect biological damage)
Measured in Gray (Gy)
What is the definition of an equivalent dose?
This measures the effects of different types of radiation on tissues e.g. alpa are completely absorbed, x-rays are only partially absorbed
Equivalent dose = absorbed dose * radiation weighting dose factor
What is the radiation weighting factor for an x-ray?
1
What is the definition of the effective dose?
Takes account of the fact that different tissues show different sensitivities to radiation, and allows comparison of risk of different types of radiation exposure. Tissue weighting factor
Effect dose = Sum (absorbed dose * radiation weighting factor & tissue weighting factor)
What does the effective does allow us to compare? and its measurement?
Comparison between whole body irradiation and a radiation dose which is uniformly distributed
Sieverts (Sv)
What is the weighting factor for salivary glands?
0.01
What is the value of the natural dose of radiation be received daily?
7.5 millisieverts per day
Name the 5 main sources of radiation?
Medical Radon Gamma rays from ground and buildings Internal from food and drink Cosmic
What % source is radon?
50.1%
What are some everyday items that give off radiation?
Granite
Bananas
Brazil nuts
How do dental radiographs compare to everyday life radiation exposure/
200g brazil nuts
28 hours in Aberdeen
European flight
What is the ratio for 1mSv to give a fatal case of cancer?
1:20,000
What is the effective dose for an intraoral x-ray?
0.003mSv
What is the effective dose for an OPG?
0.010mSv
What dose will a staff member receives standing 1.5 metres away?
0.0003mSv
What is the ALARP principle?
As Low As Reasonably Practicable
What are the best ways to reduce dental raditation exposure?
Technique
IR rules/guidance
Equipment
What are the consentual laws for x-rays?
Implied
Explain which tooth and why
Double check the tooth
When is direct action film used?
Packet film
When is indirect action film used?
Intensifying screen
Cassette
Name 2 types of digital receptors?
Solid-state sensors
Phosphor plates*
Explain how direct action film work?
Sensitive to x-ray photons
Intra oral work (bitewings and occlusals)
Explain how indirect action film works?
Used with intensifying screens in a cassette
Film sensitive to light photons emitted by intensifying screen when they are stimulated by X-rays
Require less exposure to x-rays to produce an image
Panoramic, cephalometric films and sialography
Name the parts of a direct-action film?
Film
Protective black paper
Lead foil
Outer wrapper
What is the function of the outer wrapper?
Plastic
Sealed to maintain light tightness and prevent saliva ingress
White side must face x-ray beam
What is the function of the lead foil?
Absorbs some of the residual radiation, preventing further penetration
Prevents ‘backscatter’
Needs to be placed the correct way up
What is the function of the black paper?
On both sides of film
Protecting from light, saliva and damage whilst being unwrapped
What is the structure of radiographic film?
Protective layer Emulsion Adhesive Plastic base Adhesive Emulsion Protective layer
What is the active part of the radiographic film?
Emulsion
What is the function of the plastic base?
Supports the emulsion bit does not contribute to the image
Transparent cellulose acetate
What is the function of the adhesive?
Holds the emulsion on the base
Very thin
How does emulsion work and what is it’s overall function?
2 layers on either side of base
Attached by adhesive
A gelatin matrix contains silver halide crystals
These crystals are sensitive to X-ray photons, those that are struck by photons appear as black on the processed image
What is the function of the protective layer?
Outermost surface
Protect
How is latent image formation carried out?
Crystal exposed to x-ray photon
Displaces an electron
Attracts Ag
Forms black spot
How should you orient the intraoral film?
Dot embossed on one corner, with the raised aspect to the front (towards beam)
Dot appears on image raised, and viewed as if operator was facing patient
For periapicals where should the dot be found?
Occlusal surface
For bitewings where should the dot be found?
Palatally
For occlusal films where should the dot be found?
Anteriorly
What is the definition of optical density?
Describes the extent of film blackening
What does the characteristic curve show?
Variation in optical density with different exposures
What can affect the amount of background fog on a film?
Colour of plastic base
Development of some unexposed silver halide crystals
How is film speed determined?
Size and number of silver halide crystals
What are the advantages of using faster film?
Use less radiation to achieve the same optical density
What is the definition of film latitude?
Range of exposures that produce visible difference in optical density
What is the definition of film contrast?
The difference in optical density between 2 points on the film that have received different exposures
What is the definition of resolution?
A measure of the ability to differentiate between differing structures in close proximity