Basics of Radiology

Characteristics of X-rays
Exposure condition
Image Quality

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 Characteristics of X-rays
X-rays are electromagnetic waves just like light waves.

Voltage Low High

Radiation Soft Hard

Penetrating Power Weak Strong

Absorption Large Small

Contrast High Low

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Exposure condition

Voltage

Radiation dose

Exposure distance

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 What is voltage (kV)?
Strength (penetrating power) of emitted X-rays
Change the voltage depending on the thickness of the body being X-rayed.

Thickness: small Thickness: large

Voltage: low Voltage: high

【Example】
Head: approx. 70 kV Lumbar (side): 80 kV
Abdomen: approx. 75 kV Hand: approx. 45 kV

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What are tube current (mA) &
exposure time (sec)?
Amount of emitted X-rays (radiation dose)
Change the dose depending on the thickness of the body being X-rayed.
Dose: tube current (mA) x exposure time (sec) = mAs
* If mAs is the same, the dose is the same.

： small
Dose： Dose: large

【Example】
Head: approx. 20 mAs Lumbar (side): approx. 80 mAs
Chest: approx. 3 mAs Abdomen: approx. 25 mAs
Hand: approx. 5 mAs

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 What is exposure distance (cm)?
Distance from the focus of the X-ray tube to an object
(usually the cassette or IP)

If the distance is changed, the amount of emitted X-rays changes.

The result is the same as in the case of light: If the distance doubles,
the amount of X-rays is reduced to a quarter of the original amount.
Since the radiation quality of X-rays remains unchanged in this case,
the image contrast does not change.

X-ray source (point source)

Amount of X-rays 1 1/2 1/4

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Quality
What determines Image Quality?

Sharpness

Granularity

Contrast

Density

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What Determines Image Quality?
“Sharpness”
What is sharpness?
How faithfully details are represented and reproduced.

Sharpness Blur Artificial

Focus size Big Small

Distance between
Short Long
focus & IP
Distance between
Long Short
subject & IP

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What Determines Image Quality?
“Granularity”
What is “good” or “bad” granularity?
X-ray images are composed of minute grains.
If the number of grains that penetrated the subject is small, in other words,
if the dose is small, the number of grains that make up the image is small,
so noise elements (scattered radiation, etc.) become more distinct than
in the original data.
When the dose is large, the number of grains becomes large,
so noise become less distinct.

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What Determines Image Quality?
“Contrast”
Relation between Tube Voltage and Image
When the voltage is changed, the image contrast changes.

Voltage Low High

Radiation Soft Hard

Penetrating Power Weak Strong

Absorption Large Small

Contrast High Low

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What Determines Image Quality?
“Density”
Relation between Dose and Image
Film/Screen Excess density Lack of density

Large Dose Small Dose

FCR Good granularity Bad granularity
Appropriate density

For F/S images, density depends on changes in the dose.

For FCR images, granularity depends on changes in the dose.
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Keep in check

Many factors determine the image quality.

－Exposure condition
－Patient size, region of interest

Important factors for image quality
－Sharpness, granularity, density, contrast

Technicians require a certain experience

and education to obtain a fair image quality.

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