Scatter Control

&
Grid Use

Denise Ogilvie
October 2007
 Objectives
 Identify factors that affect the amount of
scatter radiation produced
 Describe methods used to control the
amount of scatter radiation
 Describe the effect of beam restriction on
image quality and patient dose
 Compare advantages and disadvantages of
different beam restricting devises
 Objectives
 Describe the purpose of a grid
 Explain the construction of a grid, including
materials used, grid ratio and grid frequency
 Differentiate between parallel and focused grids,
stationary and moving grids
 Calculate changes in technical factors to
compensate for changes in grid selection
 Be able to identify common errors made when
using a grid on an image
 Know when to use a grid and when not to use.
 Scatter Radiation
 Scatter is radiation which is changed in
direction as a result of interaction with some
medium.
 Some of the photon’s energy is absorbed,
leaving the resultant photon with a change
in its direction and with less energy
 These scattered photons are detrimental to
contrast of the image and also increase the
patient dose
 Scatter Radiation
 Other sources of scatter
– materials beyond the
image receptor – table
top – may cause scatter
to go back to the image.
 Two primary factors
affecting the amount of
scatter produced –kvp
and the irradiated
material
Scatter Radiation
 Kvp

 Affects the penetrability of the beam.

 Higher kVp, more photons go through
patient to the IR, less absorbed by patient,
higher scatter and less contrast on image
 Lower the kVp, increase in dose absorbed
by patient, less fog on film, more contrasty
image
 Scatter Radiation
 Irradiated Material

 Amount of scatter affected by volume and

atomic number of irradiated material
 Volume is controlled by field size and patient
thickness
 Increase in volume if field size increases
and patient thickness increases.
 Scatter Radiation
 To reduce scatter – smallest field size,
compression of body part
 The higher the atomic number of the
material the greater the absorption of
photons and the less scatter eg bone
compared to soft tissue
Scatter Radiation
 Scatter Radiation
 Beam Restriction

 Aperture diaphragms, cones/cylinders,

collimators – 3 types of beam restricting
devices to control scatter and reduce patient
dose
 Scatter Radiation
 Aperture Diaphragm
 Simplest, low cost
 Flat piece of lead with
hole (of different sizes)
 Slides into slot at bottom
of collimator
 Some resultant
penumbra
 Scatter Radiation
 Cones and Cylinders
 Similar to diaphragm
with extension cone or
cylinder
 Slides into slot bottom
of collimator
 Reduces penumbra
Scatter Radiation
 Scatter Radiation
 Collimater
 More complex, most
commonly used form of
beam restriction
 Set of adjustable lead
shutters
 Light & mirror to show
area of beam and
collimation
 Scatter Radiation

 The bevelled edges of

lead diaphragm
compared to vertical
edge.
 Radiographic Grids
 A device to absorb scatter radiation before it
strikes the IR
 Made of thin Pb strips interspaced with
radiolucent material – usually aluminium
 Frequency – number of lines per inch or cm
eg 60 lines per inch
 Grids with higher frequency have thinner Pb
strips – better for stationary grids so you
don’t see the lines
 The more Pb the better the scatter reduction
 Radiographic Grids
 Types
 Parallel – Pb & interspace running parallel to
one another
 Focused – central strips parallel, then
become more angled as you move away
from the centre – angle matching that of
divergent rays – allows more transmitted
photons to reach the IR
 Radiographic Grids
 Crossed grid – 2
parallel grids on top of
each other.
 May be parallel or
focused
 Radiographic Grids
 Focal range –
recommended SID for
that particular grid.
 For parallel grid focal
range is from certain
SID to infinity –
function better at
longer SID
 Radiographic Grids
 Grid Ratio
 Ratio of height of Pb
lines to distance
between them
 Grid ratio increases,
contrast increases
 Radiographic Grids
 The higher the grid
ratio the more
exposure is required
 Radiographic Grids
 Potter Bucky – moving
grid for better scatter
clean up and improved
image quality
 Grid is moved during
the exposure to blur
out grid lines.
 Movement must
commence before
exposure can be made
 Radiographic Grids
 Air gap technique
 Between patient and film
 Eliminates need of grid
 Gap of at least 15cm –
increase SID to reduce
magnification
 The scatter from the body
does not hit the IR
 Radiographic Grids
 Grid Errors
 Upside down grid –
peripheral grid cut off
with a focus grid
 Check front of grid –
upper side has line
down centre indicating
direction of grid lines
 Radiographic Grids
 Off centre – tube not
centred to middle of
grid.
 Result in decrease in
exposure across entire
image and visible grid
lines
 The greater the
decentering the
greater the grid cut off
 Radiographic Grids
 Off level grid – tube
angled across long
axis of Pb strips
 Show grid lines with
decrease in exposure
on image
 References

 Burns, E, Radiographic imaging a guide for producing

quality images, Saunders 1992 1st edn
 Carlton, R, Adler, A, Principles of radiographic imaging an
art and a science, 4th edn
 Fauber, T, Radiographic imaging & exposure, 2000
 Kodak, The fundementals of radiography,11th edn
 Stockley, S, A manual of radiographic equipment,1st edn,
1986