P RIMARY E XPOSURE FACTORS : Contrast, Density, Image Quality, technique math 1.

PRIMARY EXPOSURE FACTORS:Contrast, Density, Image Quality, technique math

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REVIEW SLIDE-WHAT DO WE KNOW ABOUT X-RAYS SO FAR?Properties of X-rays

Are highly penetrating invisible rays which are a form of electromagnetic radiation.

Are electrically neutral and therefore not affected by either electric or magnetic fields

Can be produced over a wide variety of energies and wavelengths (polyenergetic & heterogeneous).

Release very small amounts of heat upon passing through matter.

Travel in straight lines.

Travel at the speed of light in a vacuum.

Can ionize matter.

Cause fluorescence of certain crystals.

Cannot be focused by a lens.

Affects photographic film.

Produce chemical and biological changes in matter through ionization and excitation.

Produce secondary and scatter radiation.

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UNITS OF MEASURE-REVIEW

Measure of current, amount of electron charges passing through a point

Measure of potential difference, value of potential electrical difference as one unit of current passes 3

UNITS OF MEASURE-REVIEW

Table 5. SI prefixes

Factor Name Symbol 1024 yotta Y

1021 zetta Z

1018 exa E

1015 peta P

1012 tera T

109 giga G

106 mega M

103 kilo k

102 hecto h

101 deka da

Factor Name Symbol 10-1 deci d

10-2 centi c

10-3 milli m

10-6 micro µ

10-9 nano n

10-12 pico p

10-15 femto f

10-18 atto a

10-21 zepto z

10-24 yocto y

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WHAT HAPPENS TO OUR XRAY?

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Primary beam

Scattered photons

Exit radiation(Remnant radiation)

PRIMARY EXPOSURE FACTORSkVp, mAs and SID6

PRIMARY EXPOSURE FACTORS: KV, MAS, SID

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The radiograph is formed by x-ray photons reaching the image receptor .

PRIMARY EXPOSURE FACTORS: KV, MAS, SID

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PRIMARY EXPOSURE FACTORS: KV, MAS, SID

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PRIMARY EXPOSURE FACTORS

mAs Milliamps-Amount of

electrons burned off filament

Time-measured in seconds, fractions of seconds, determines how long the electrons will flow across to anode(another amount)

Kilovoltage Determines the

strength of the x-ray Determines the

wavelength of the x-ray

Determines the power of the x-ray

Determines the penetrating ability of x-ray

mA, time kVp, kV

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EXPOSURE FACTORS

Controls the density of the image by controlling the amount of electrons sent to anode target

Controls the contrast of the image by controlling the penetrating power of the x-ray photon

Also controls the density of the image because more photons are able to penetrate the part being imaged

mAs kVp

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DENSITY

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CONTRAST

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What changed?....contrast or density? 14

Now what changed?....very subtle, often subjective

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DENSITY

Anatomic Density Body part/object being x-rayed Atomic # Thickness of part

Optical Density Amount of x-ray photons reaching the image receptor

The mA applied The time applied Also referred to as x-ray output

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MILLIAMPERAGE

mA

One milliampere is equal to one thousandth of an ampere.

The amount of current supplied to the x-ray tube

Range 10 to 1200 mA20

TIME

In seconds

How long x-rays will be produced

0.001 to 6 seconds

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MASmA X s = mAs

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MAS RECIPROCITY

100 mA x 1/4 = 25 mAs

200 mA x 1/8 = 25 mAs

400 mA x 1/16 = 25 mAs

This works ONLY when you are trying to keep the mAs the SAME………

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WHAT CHANGES TO MAS ARE NEEDED FOR HUMAN EYE TO DETECT?

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TO CHANGE DENSITY

The human eye needs a 20-30% change in density on an image in order to visibly see it.

Most frequently radiographers will change the density by doubling or by halving the density.

What do you do in order to double density on an image?

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DENSITY DIRECTLY PROPORTIONAL TO MAS

+ 25%mAS = 25% increase in density100 mAs

+50% mAs = 50% increase in density

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DENSITY

Density is like toast…too much and the toast is burned, too little and it is underdone.

The images differ in density only. Which one looks optimal to you?

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WHAT WOULD YOU DO?

This image was taken at 60 mAs. What would you do to fix this image?

This image was taken at 300 mA. What was the time of the exposure?

If we wanted to change the mA but keepthe mAs the same, what would we do?

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VARIABLES THAT AFFECT DENSITY Patient size

Thickness of body part Tissue composition

Z# Bone, muscle, soft tissue, water, air

mAs kVp Source image receptor distance (SID)

The distance from the tube to the image receptor The closer the tube, the more photons hit target

Beam modification The use of filter (we will cover later)

Image receptor The use of grid vs. non-grid, film , CR, DR (we will

cover later) Processing

Chemistry, time in chemistry (we will cover later30

DENSITY MATH WORK Milliamperage second Conversions

Math Review

Fraction to Decimal 1) 1/ 5 = _______ 2) 1/ 20 = _______ 3) 1/ 8 = _______ 4) 1/ 60 = _______ 5) 1/ 15 = _______

mA x Time (s) = mAs 10) 100 x 0.07 = _______ 11) 100 x 0.013 = _______ 12) 100 x 0.033 = _______ 13) 100 x 0.25 = _______ 14) 100 x 0.009 = _______ 15) 200 x 0.04 = _______ 16) 200 x 0.07 = _______ 17) 200 x 0.025 = _______ 18) 300 x 0.01 = _______ 19) 300 x 0.08 = _______ 20) 300 x 0.05 = _______

mA x Time (s) = mAs 21) 100 x 1/ 8 = _______ 22) 100 x 1/ 120 = _______ 23) 100 x 1/ 15 = _______ 24) 100 x 1/ 40 = _______ 25) 100 x 1/ 6 = _______ 26) 50 x 1/ 20 = _______ 27) 50 x 1/ 120 = _______ 28) 50 x 1/ 80 = _______ 29) 200 x 1/ 80 = _______ 30) 200 x 1/ 12 = _______ 31) 300 x 1/ 5 = _______ 32) 300 x 1/ 60 = _______ 33) 400 x 1/ 80 = _______ 34) 400 x 1/ 60 = _______ 35) 500 x 1/ 12 = _______ 36) 500 x 1/ 20 = _______ 37) 600 x 1/ 40 = _______ 38) 600 x 1/ 120 = _______ 39) 600 x 1/ 25 = _______ 40) 600 x 1/ 5 = _______

mA or S is unknown

1. 50 mA @ ______ S = 10 mAS 4. _____mA @ 0.1 S = 40 mAS

2. 100 mA @ _______ S = 4 mAS 5. _____ mA @ 0.2 S = 40 mAS

3. 200 mA @ _______ S = 5 mAS 6. _____ mA @ 0.3 = 60 mAS

mAs density changes & kVp contrast changes

1. mAs = 10 Double the optical density(OD) __________ ½ the OD ________

2. mAs = 15 Double the optical density(OD) ________ __ ½ the OD ________

3. kVp = 50 Narrow the contrast scale ___________ widen contrast ________

4. kVp = 75 Narrow the contrast scale ___________ widen contrast ________

This is posted on the website. PleaseDownload and turn in the next class Oct 2nd

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SAMPLE PROBLEMSWhen mA is unknown…

The image was shot at 45mAs using a .75second exposure. What is the mA?

When s is unknown….

The image was shot at 80mAs using the 400mA station. What was the time of exposure?

mAmAs

mAsmA

mAsmA

60?75.

45?

45sec75.?

smA

mAs

mAsmA

2.sec?400

80sec?

80sec?400

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CONTRAST

THE DIFFERENCES BETWEEN: Blacks Whites Dark gray Light grayTHERE IS A SCALE OF CONTRAST

• many colors of black, white, gray= long scale• Few colors of black, white, gray=short scale

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SHORT SCALE OF CONTRAST

Not very many differences

Between grays

Also known as high contrast

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LONG SCALE OF CONTRAST• Many

different shades of gray

• Also known as low contrast

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KILOVOLTAGE PEAK (KVP)

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BEAM ATTENUATION AKA ABSORPTION

High kVp Penetrates more easily Causes more grays Low contrast

Low kVp Decreases penetration Causes more black-

white High contrast

Different parts of body attenuate differently

The difference in attenuation is the basis for contrast

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OPTIMAL KVPIS THERE SUCH A CONCEPT? YES and NO

Depends on the body part The anatomic area of interest

More energy is needed to penetrate through bony tissue (high z #) than soft tissue (low z #)

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+ 15% KVP - 15% KVP

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15% RULE

15% kVp = doubling of exposure to the image

receptor

15% kVp = halving of exposure to the image receptor

15% rule will always change the contrast of the image because kV is the primary method of changing image contrast.

Remember : 15% change ( ) KVP has the same effect as

doubling or ½ the MAS on density43

CONTRAST MATH WORK Milliamperage second Conversions

Math Review

Fraction to Decimal 1) 1/ 5 = _______ 2) 1/ 20 = _______ 3) 1/ 8 = _______ 4) 1/ 60 = _______ 5) 1/ 15 = _______

mA x Time (s) = mAs 10) 100 x 0.07 = _______ 11) 100 x 0.013 = _______ 12) 100 x 0.033 = _______ 13) 100 x 0.25 = _______ 14) 100 x 0.009 = _______ 15) 200 x 0.04 = _______ 16) 200 x 0.07 = _______ 17) 200 x 0.025 = _______ 18) 300 x 0.01 = _______ 19) 300 x 0.08 = _______ 20) 300 x 0.05 = _______

mA x Time (s) = mAs 21) 100 x 1/ 8 = _______ 22) 100 x 1/ 120 = _______ 23) 100 x 1/ 15 = _______ 24) 100 x 1/ 40 = _______ 25) 100 x 1/ 6 = _______ 26) 50 x 1/ 20 = _______ 27) 50 x 1/ 120 = _______ 28) 50 x 1/ 80 = _______ 29) 200 x 1/ 80 = _______ 30) 200 x 1/ 12 = _______ 31) 300 x 1/ 5 = _______ 32) 300 x 1/ 60 = _______ 33) 400 x 1/ 80 = _______ 34) 400 x 1/ 60 = _______ 35) 500 x 1/ 12 = _______ 36) 500 x 1/ 20 = _______ 37) 600 x 1/ 40 = _______ 38) 600 x 1/ 120 = _______ 39) 600 x 1/ 25 = _______ 40) 600 x 1/ 5 = _______

mA or S is unknown

1. 50 mA @ ______ S = 10 mAS 4. _____mA @ 0.1 S = 40 mAS

2. 100 mA @ _______ S = 4 mAS 5. _____ mA @ 0.2 S = 40 mAS

3. 200 mA @ _______ S = 5 mAS 6. _____ mA @ 0.3 = 60 mAS

mAs density changes & kVp contrast changes

1. mAs = 10 Double the optical density(OD) __________ ½ the OD ________

2. mAs = 15 Double the optical density(OD) ________ __ ½ the OD ________

3. kVp = 50 Narrow the contrast scale ___________ widen contrast ________

4. kVp = 75 Narrow the contrast scale ___________ widen contrast ________

This is posted on the website. PleaseDownload and turn in the next class (Oct 2nd) 44

CONTRAST MATH WORK

Request: Widen the contrastAsking for a long scale contrastLooking for more grays, more grays that look alike

Solution: Increase kV

Request: Narrow the contrastAsking for a short scale contrastLooking for less grays, more black and whites

Solution: Decrease kV

Use the 15% rule 45

CONTRAST MATH WORK

Image was shot at 75 kV. What is the new kV if you want to narrow the contrast?

75.6325.1175

25.117515.

kV

The new kV should be 63.75In order to narrow the contrast, you must reduce kV.

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CONTRAST MATH WORK

Image was shot at 65kV. What wouldthe new kV be if you wanted to widen the contrast?

75.7475.965

75.96515.

To widen the contrast, you must increase kV. Add 15% of 65 to 65. The new kV would be 74.75 47

VARIABLES THAT AFFECT DENSITY Patient size

Thickness of body part Tissue composition

Z# Bone, muscle, soft tissue, water, air

mAs kVp Source image receptor distance (SID)

The distance from the tube to the image receptor The closer the tube, the more photons hit target

Beam modification The use of filter (we will cover later)

Image receptor The use of grid vs. non-grid, film , CR, DR (we will

cover later) Processing

Chemistry, time in chemistry (we will cover later48

SOURCE TO IMAGE RECEPTOR DISTANCE

SID -controlled and manipulated in the x-ray room

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INTENSITY OF THE BEAM

1. As distance _______: intensity ________

2. As distance _______: intensity ________

3. Inverse relation

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INTENSITY IS SPREAD OUT…

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INVERSE SQUARE LAW

Farther the distance of the x-ray tube to the IR

Photons have less chance of getting to IR

Due to divergent beam

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HOW DOES DISTANCE AFFECT IR EXPOSURE?1. Increased distance: decreased exposure

________________

2. Decreased distance: increased exposure ________________

3. Inversely proportional to the square of the distance

________________ Intensity is ¼ of original

________________ Intensity increases to 4 x’s the original exposure

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INVERSE SQUARE LAW

Used for RADIATION PROTECTION

When you change your distance from the “radiation source”

The intensity of radiation will be reduced by a square of the distance MOVING AWAY FROM THE SOURCE

INCREASED – CLOSER TO SOURCE 54

INVERSE SQUARE LAW

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APPLICATION OF INVERSE SQUARE LAW PRINCIPLES CAN YIELD SIGNIFICANT REDUCTIONS IN PATIENT AND OPERATOR

RADIATION EXPOSURE.

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