Principles of Imaging Laboratory: Reviewer ➢ Milliamperes and time (seconds) are

usually combined and used as one factor,

Radiographic Technique mAs in radiographic technique selection.
Is generally described as the combination
of settings selected on the control panel of the x- ➢ mAs principally controls radiation quality.
ray machine to produce a desired effect on the
radiograph. The geometry and position of the x-
ray tube, the patient, and the image receptor are ➢ The mAs is the key factor in the control of
included in this description. optical density on the radiograph.

May be described by identifying three Source to Image Receptor Distance (SID)

groups of factors: • Distance affects the exposure of the image
1. Exposure Technique Factor receptor according to the inverse square law.

Kilovoltage(kV)/Kilovoltage peak(kVp) 2. Patient Factor

• is the electromotive force or electrical
pressure that pushes the electrons from the Body Habitus
cathode to the anode during exposure, Refers to the general size and shape of a
therefore controlling the speed that the patient.
electrons travel, the force of the impact at the
anode target and the quality of penetrating Categories:
power of the x-ray produced. 1) Sthenic
➢ Is the average patient.
• Determines the wavelength of the x-rays ➢ Radiographic Technique charts are
produced, High kV, produces short based on the sthenic patient.
wavelength x-rays (hard rays), the type with
great penetrability; lower kV results in longer 2) Hyposthenic
wavelengths (softer rays) and less ➢ Is thin and requires less radiographic
penetrability. technique.

Milliamperage(mA) 3) Hypersthenic
➢ Is big in frame and requires more
• Determines the exact number of electrons
radiographic technique.
which will be forced from the cathode to the
anode in a specific amount of time and under
4) Asthenic
a specific kilovoltage. This is explained by the
➢ Is very small and requires much less
fact that the mA applied to the cathode
radiographic technique.
filament determines its temperature (its
degree of incandescence) and therefore the *once body habitus is establishes then the thickness
number of electrons that will be boiled off. and composition of the anatomy is determined.*

Exposure Time(s) a) Thickness of Part

• Is the length of time (in seconds) that the  The thicker the patient, the more
anode target will be bombarded with radiation required to penetrate
electrons and therefore during which x-rays through the image receptor.
are produced. The exposure time and the
amount of x-ray produced per second (as  Use calipers to measure the thickness
determined by the MA setting) determine the of anatomy being irradiated.
total amount of radiation produced.

1
 b) Body Composition Cancer Cirrhosis
 Must estimate the mass density of the Degenerative Arthritis Hypertrophy
anatomy and the range of mass Emphysema Metastases
densities of the anatomy being Osteoporosis Pleural effusion
radiographed. Pneumothorax Pneumonia
Sclerosis
 Generally speaking, when soft tissue
is being imaged, low kVp and high
mAs will be used. 3. Image Quality Factors
 Extremities that have both soft tissue ➢ Refers to the characteristics of the
and bone, low kVp will be used radiographic image.
because the part is thin. ➢ Optical Density, Contrast, Image
Detail, And Distortion.
 High subject contrast, high kVp and ➢ Provide a means for radiographer to
low mAs can be used. produce, review and evaluate
radiographs.
*Variation in tissue mass density are often described ➢ Are considered the language of
by their degree of radiolucency or radiopacity. radiography.
Radiolucent tissue attenuates few x-rays and
appears black on the radiograph. Radiopaque Image Formation
tissue absorbs x-rays and appears white on the  Radiographic image is a result of the
radiograph.* differential absorption of the primary x-
rays that interact with the varying tissue
c) Pathology composition of the anatomic area of
 Is the medical science that is interest.
concerned with all aspects of disease,
including structural and functional *Differential absorption is the difference between
changes caused by a disease process. the x-ray photons that are absorbed
photoelectrically versus those the penetrate the
body.*
Type of pathology and degree of pathology.
 Beam attenuation occurs when the
primary x-ray beam loses energy as it
 Destructive-causes the tissue to be interacts with anatomic tissue.
more radiolucent (tissue decreases in
thickness, effective anomic number *Attenuation is the product of absorption and
and mass density) scattering.*
 Three processes occur during x-ray
 Constructive-causes the tissue to be
interaction with anatomic tissues:
more radiopaque (tissue increases in
absorption, transmission, and scattering.
thickness, effective anomic number
 Total absorption of the incoming x-ray
and mass density)
photon is a result of the photoelectric
effect.
Classifying Pathology  Scattering of the incoming photon is a
result of the Compton effect.
Radiolucent(Destructive) Radiopaque(Constructive)
Active tuberculosis Aortic Aneurysm
Atrophy Ascites
Bowel obstruction Atelectasis