Components of the Radiolgraphic Image Detail and Distortion RT 244 pg 1

Main Factors Affecting Recorded Detail

 kVp & mAs  SID (Source to Image Distance)
 Technique Selection (Time)  OID (Object to Image Distance)
 Motion  Material Unsharpness/ Film Screen
 Object Unsharpness Combo
 Focal Spot Size
Factors that affectRecorded Detail  Intensifying Screens
 Geometric unsharpness  Film Speed / Composition
OID SID SIZE SHAPE  Film – Screen contact
 Motion unsharpness (blurring)  Kvp & Mas (density / visibility)

GEOMETRIC QUALITIES
 DETAIL How “clear” the object looks on the radiograph
 DISTORTION Recorded Detail
 MAGNIFICATION  Other names:
DETAIL -sharpness of detail resolution
The degree of sharpness in an object’s borders and -definition degree of noise
structural details.

Factors Affecting DENSITY

 PATIENT THICKNESS,PATHOLOGY
Motion
 Can be voluntary or involuntary
 Best controlled by short exposure times
 Use of careful instructions to the pt.
 Suspension of pt. respiration
 Immobilization devices
Focal Spot Size
 Smaller x-ray beam width will produce a sharper
image.
 Fine detail = small focal spot (i.e. small bones)
MAS & KVP SID
Decrease Motion Unsharpness
 Instruct patient not to move or breath
 Use Immobilization devices
 Use Short exposure times
 Lock equipment in place
 General radiography uses large focal spot
 Beam from penlight size flashlight vs. flood
light beam

FOCAL SPOT ANGLE

Object Unsharpness
 Main problem is trying to image a 3-D object on a 2-D film.
 Human body is not straight edges and sharp angles.
 We must compensate for object unsharpness with factors we can control: focal spot size, SID & OID
SID Source to Image Distance
 The greater the distance between the source of the x-ray (tube) and the image receptor (cassette), the greater the
image sharpness.
 Standard distance = 40 in. most exams Exception = Chest radiography 72 in.SID
 Shine a flashlight on a 3-D object, shadow borders will appear “fuzzy”
On a radiograph it’s called ______________
 A true border – _____
 Farther the flashlight from object = sharper borders. Same with radiography.
OIDObject to Image Distance
 The closer the object to the film, the sharper the detail.
 OID , penumbra , sharpness 
 OID , penumbra , sharpness 
 Structures located deep in the body, radiographer must know how to position to get the object closest to the film.
Components of the Radiolgraphic Image Detail and Distortion RT 244 pg 2
Distortion Misrepresentation of the true size or shape of an object
MAGNIFICATION (size distortion) TRUE DISTORTION (shape distortion)
Shape Distortion
 Misrepresentation of the shape of an object
 Controlled by alignment of the beam, part (object), & image receptor
 Influences: Central ray angulation & body part rotation Elongation Foreshortened Normal

Central Ray
 Radiation beam diverges from the tube in a pyramid  Photons along the beam’s periphery travel at an
shape. angle
 Photons in the center travel along a straight line –  When central ray in angled, image shape is
CR distorted.

Central Ray Angulation

 Body parts are not always 90 degrees from one another
 Central ray angulation is used to demonstrate certain details that can be hidden by superimposed body parts.
 Body part rotation or obliquing the body can also help visualize superimposed anatomy.
 NAME 3 EXAMPLES
MAGNIFICATIONcaused by:
 TUBE CLOSE TO THE PART (↓SID) (↑ OID)
 PART FAR FROM THE CASSETTE Compensate for MAG : ↑ OID by ↑ SID =
“increase SID 7” for every 1” OID
Size Distortion & SID
 Major influences: SID & OID
 As SID , magnification 
 Standardized SID’s allow radiologist to assume certain amt. of magnification factors are present
 Must note deviations from standard SID What can be done to improve the detail with a large OID
Use a smaller FS 40” SID VS 72” SID

Size Distortion & OID

 If source is kept constant, OID will affect magnification
 As OID , magnification 
 The farther the object is from the film, the more magnification
How can it be measured? Measuring % of Magnification

SID
SOD
Measuring % of Magnification
What is the % of mag when you have a 72” SID and4” OID? DO the math…………

Material Unsharpness
 Equipment used can contribute to image Intensifying screens
unsharpness  Lower patient dose
 Fast film/screen combinations = decrease in image  Changes resolution of image
sharpness  slow screens less LIGHT = better detail
 Slower film/screen combinations = increase in  Faster – less detail (more blurring on edges)
image sharpness

Intensifying Screens: Review

 Located inside the cassette (film holder)  Blue to purple light
 Calcium Tungstate  Rare Earth
 Green & Ultraviolet light

POOR SCREEN CONTACT

 FOAM BACKING HELPS TO PLACE INTENSIFYING SCREENS IN DIRECT CONTACT WITH THE FILM – NO GAPS
Components of the Radiolgraphic Image Detail and Distortion RT 244 pg 3
 IF GAPS – MORE LIGHT CAN BE EMITTED IN SPACE, CAUSING THE IMAGE TO BE OF POOR DETAIL

WIRE MESH FOR SCREEN CONTACT TEST

Screen Speed
 Efficiency of a screen in converting x-rays to light Film is designed to be sensitive to the color of light
is Screen Speed. emitted by the intensifying screens.
Spectral Matching (F/S)  Blue LIGHT– Conventional Calcium Tungstate
 What does it mean? screen
 Name the two types of screen phosphors  Green, Yellow-Green LIGHT
 What light spectrum do they emit?  – Rare Earth screen
Spectral Sensitivity
Spectral Matching (F/S systems)

Safe lights What wattage bulb? Distance from counter top?

Review of Film Characteristics
 Size of silver halide crystals & emulsion thickness determine speed of film and degree of resolution
Speed – the response to photons Faster response= less detail, and
 Resolution – the detail seen less exposure (chest x-ray)
 What are these  Finer crystals / thinner crystal layer
 What are they made ofFilm Speed / Crystal size =Slower response, greater detail, more
 Larger crystals or Thicker crystal layer exposure (extremity)

IMAGE ON FILM
 SINGLE EMULSION = BETTER DETAIL DOUBLE EMULISON = LESS DETAIL
 PARALLAX With double emulsion – an image is created on both emulsions – then superimposed – slight blurring
of edges

Extremity vs Regular cassettes

QUANTUM MOTTLE Film grain, or graininess, refers to the tiny black spots that make up the visible image, one grain from
each silver halide crystal exposed
MORE COMMON IN CR SYSTEMS NOW - NOT ENOUGH PHOTONS TO CREATE IMAGE
Factors Affecting mAs
LIST 6 Factors Affecting mAs
 Patient factors: size of pt., density of tissue,  Distance - how
pathology  Grids
 kVp  Film/Screen Combinations
 Processing
Technique /Denisty CHANGES Log denisty H & D curve

 a densitometer, measures film blackness.

 Film blackness is the relationship of the intensity of the light that hits the film from the view box (incident intensity)
to the intensity of the light transmitted through the film (transmitted intensity).
 These measurements plotted on a graph produce a characteristic curve.
The limitations of the human eye determine the useful density range in diagnostic radiography.
 The diagnostically useful range of densities is 0.25 to 2.5.
 The later module on exposure calculation considers this in more detail.
Film latitude ? What does it mean how does it plot on the curve?

Main Factors Affecting Recorded Detail

 kVp & mAs  SID (Source to Image Distance)
 Motion  OID (Object to Image Distance)
 Object Unsharpness  Material Unsharpness/ Film Screen
 Focal Spot Size Combo
Components of the Radiolgraphic Image Detail and Distortion RT 244 pg 4