Stacie Pomponio

RTE 142

Notebook #7

Film-Screen Radiography Digital Radiography

Density According to ARRT, Radiographic Density in DR is referred to as Image
(film) density is the degree of blackening or Receptor Exposure.
opacity of an area in a radiograph due
to the accumulation of black metallic There are 3 primary factors that
Image silver following exposure and processing determine IR exposure:
Recept of a film. mAs
or o Time
Exposu Overexposure is high density (too o mA
re (DR) dark)
Underexposure is low density (too There are secondary factors including:
light) kVp
o 4% change in kVp
In order to create a visible difference in o 15% rule
density on a radiograph there must be a SID
minimum of a 30% change in mAs, and o Inversely proportional
a minimum 2 times of half mAs to o Inverse Square Law
correct for under or over exposure
OID
o Inversely proportional
Screen/film Speed is directly
proportional to density o Air Gap technique
decreases it because
There are 3 primary factors that scattered photons diverge
determine IR exposure: and miss image receptor
mAs Grid Ratio
o Time o Inversely proportional
o mA Filtration
o Inversely proportional
There are secondary factors including: o Increased filtration reduces
kVp IR exposure due to higher
o 4% change in kVp average beam energy and
o 15% rule less beam intensity
SID Part thickness
o Inversely proportional o Inversely proportional
o Inverse Square Law o 4cm increased patient
thickness adjust mAs by
OID
factor of 2
o Inversely proportional
Mass density
o Air Gap technique decreases
it because scattered
 photons diverge and miss
image receptor
Grid Ratio Collimation
o Inversely proportional o Inversely proportional
o Reduces # of photons
o Less scatter
Filtration o Decreased IR exposure
o Inversely proportional Fog
o Increased filtration reduces o Directly Proportional
IR exposure due to higher
average beam energy and Overexposure = causes too
less beam intensity much information (useless &
Part thickness cant process image)
o Inversely proportional Underexposure = not enough
o 4cm increased patient information to reach the detector
thickness adjust mAs by Preset response curve to help
factor of 2 poor exposure factors for image
Mass density Wide latitude
Collimation
o Inversely proportional Visible differences in images:
o Reduces # of photons Minimum 30% for visible change
o Less scatter in density with changes in
o Decreased IR exposure doubles or halves
Fog 4% change in kVp
o Directly Proportional 15% rule

Contra According to ARRT, Radiographic The ARRT states that contrast is

st contrast is defined as the visible determined primarily by the
differences between any two selected processing algorithm that provides a
areas of density levels within the desired image appearance. In DR,
radiographic image. Contrast is contrast is described as gray scale, as
described with a scale of contrast, opposed to film screen, which is called
which is the number of densities that scale of contrast.
are visible (aka number of shades of
gray). Contrast is also referred as short Ability to see details
scale, which is high contrast (density Bit depth is the amount of grays
decreased), and long scale, which is low that can be used
contrast (density increased). Look Up Table applies contrast
Histogram is selected
Visible differences between any
# of grays directly related to
two areas of density levels
signal
Is a result of differences in
attenuation between tissues Primary Factors:
 Scatter
Primary Factors: Underpenetration
kVp Digital detector need > than 60
o High kVp=low contrast kVp
o Low kVp =high contrast
Secondary Factors:
Processing Secondary Factors:
o Longer scale Processing
Fog o Longer scale
o Increased fog = Longer Fog
scale o Increased fog = Longer
Collimation scale
o Shorter scale Collimation
Grids o Shorter scale
o Shorter scale Grids
OID o Shorter scale
o Increased OID (air gap) = OID
shorter scale o Increased OID (air gap) =
Beam Filtration shorter scale
o Increased beam filtration= Beam Filtration
Longer scale o Increased beam filtration=
mAs Longer scale
o Increased mAs = Longer mAs
scale o Increased mAs = Longer
Tissue: type scale
o Thickness Tissue: type
o Density o Thickness
o Contrast media o Density
o Pathology o Contrast media
o Pathology
 Density

Differences