CHAPTER 2 IMAGE QUALITY FACTORS

Key Terms

1. Annotation: Printed comment or label added to the digital image.

2. Automatic Exposure Control (AEC): device that uses an ionization chamber to detect the quantity of
radiation exposing the patient and image receptor.
3. Computed radiography systems: A digital imaging system that uses a cassette, a photostimulable
phosphor plate, a plate reader, and a computer workstation to acquire and display a digital image.
4. Cropping: the process of selecting and removing a portion of the image; use of postprocessing masks
and cropping tools to give the appearance of collimation of the finished radiograph does
5. not serve the same purpose and is unethical
6. Digital Radiography (DR): an advanced form of x-ray inspection which produces a digital radiographic
image instantly on a computer
7. Distortion: results from the radiographic misrepresentation of either the size (magnification) or shape of
the anatomic part.
8. Electronic masking: electronic collimation or cropping of the digital radiographic image that occurs
during postprocessing of the acquired image and does not alter the size of the irradiated field.
9. Exposure Index (EI) is a camera setting derived from one or more of the Sensitivity measurements.
10. Image contrast: the difference in density or the degree of grayness between areas of the radiographic
image
11. Image detail: sharpness of the image
12. Inverse-square law: The intensity of a source of radiation is inversely proportional to the square of the
distance
13. Kilovoltage peak: The potential difference applied to the x-ray tube that determines the energy (quality)
of the x-ray photons produced
14. Masking: used to remove unwanted areas from the final image
15. Milliamperage: The current applied to the x-ray tube that ultimately controls the number (quantity) of
photons produced.
16. Milliampere-seconds (mAs): measure of radiation produced (milliamperage) over a set amount of time
(seconds); current(mA) x time(s)
17. object-to-image receptor distance (OID): Distance between the object radiographed and the image
receptor.
18. Optical density (OD): overall blackness of the image
19. Picture Archiving and Communication System (PACS) : An electronic network for communication
between the image acquisition modalities, display stations, and storage
20. Postprocessing functions: are computer software operations available to the radiographer and
radiologist that allow manual manipulation of the displayed image.
21. Shuttering: a post processing technique that may be used to eliminate ambient light around an image
for the sole purpose of improving the quality of the displayed image
22. Source-to-image receptor distance (SID ): The distance between the source of the radiation and the
image receptor.
Objectives

1. Define milliamperage and state its significance with respect to radiographic exposure.
● Milliamperage (mA) a unit of electric current that is one thousandth of an ampere. it is used to
measure the rate of current flow in an x-ray tube and is to describe the exposure setting of a x-ray
machine that determines the rate at which x-rays are produced
2. Explain the significance of exposure time with respect to optical density
● A decrease in exposure time will result in less radiation exposure and a lighter image.
3. Explain the significance of mAs with respect to image quality
● Increasing mAs produces more electrons in an X-ray tube and subsequently increases the amount of
radiation exposure. High mAs will decrease image contrast.
4. Describe the effects of an increase in kVp with respect to both the x-ray beam and the radiographic
image.
● A higher kVp will make the x-ray beam more penetrating. It will also result in less difference in
attenuation between the different parts of the subject, leading to lower contrast.
5. List three digital pitfalls and explain how they should be avoided.
● More sensitive to scatter radiation therefore creating fog on the digital image. Can help by using
anti-scatter grid
● Exposure indicators are not standardized among various types of digital imaging equipment. The
radiographer should evaluate the exposure indicator value along with the quality of the digital
image before determining whether a repeat image is warranted
● Digital imaging systems can adjust for exposure technique errors, but poor image quality or
increased patient exposure may result. This can be avoided by using proper technique