Radiographic Image Production and Manipulation

Shephard is the Program Director in the School of Radiologic Technology at Metropolitan Nashville General Hospital. Shephard is also a doctoral candidate in health services administration, serves as the on-call sonographer at the hospital, and until 12/99 was the radiography consultant to the Forensic Medical Office in Nashville.

1 - Production and Properties of the X-ray Beam The x-ray tube Production of the x-ray beam X-ray beam properties Filtration of the x-ray beam Restriction/Limitation of the x-ray beam X-ray interactions 2 - Cassettes Conventional radiography cassettes Computed radiography cassettes Care of cassettes Problems encountered with cassettes 3 - Screens Screen function Screen construction Screen speed Screen maintenance 4 - Radiographic Film Film function Radiographic film construction Types of medical imaging film Latent image formation Manifest image Characteristics of radiographic film Radiographic film storage and handling 5 - Radiographic Film Processing The processing area The viewing area Film processing The automatic processor Processing rates Daylight automatic processors Processor maintenance Processor malfunction Silver recovery 6 Image Quality:The Photographic Factors Photographic factors Summary of photographic factors affecting image quality 7 - Image Quality:The Geometric Factors Recorded detail Distortion Summary of radiographic factors and their effects on recorded detail and distortion 8 - Radiographic Grids Purpose and application of radiographic grids Grid construction Grid efficiency Faulty use of grids Grid artifacts Alternative to grid use: The air-gap technique 9 - Automatic Exposure Control Automatic exposure control unit designs Factors influencing automatic exposure control Problems encountered with automatic exposure control Anatomically programmed radiography 10 - Technique Charts, Technique Compensation, and Multiple-Factor Technique Problems Purpose of technique charts Technique chart types Technique chart development Technique compensation Multiple-factor Technique Problems 11 - Digital Projection Radiography and Picture Archiving and Communication Systems Computed radiography and digital radiography Digital image quality Computed radiography readout parameters Digital image post-processing Digital image artifacts Practical considerations in digital image display Laser printers Computed radiography clinical implementation issues Quality Control and maintenance Picture archiving and communication systemAppendicesAppendix A Answers to chapter questionsAppendix B Tips for exercises in critical thinkingAppendix C Answers to questions students often ask