Chapter 9
Image Evaluation
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Objectives
Define the attributes of a good-quality
radiographic image.
Identify exposure factors and their radiographic
effect.
Identify factors that contribute to poor image
quality.
Recognize exposure factor errors and their
effect on the exposure indicator.
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Objectives (Cont.)
Identify factors that could contribute to quantum
noise and artifacts.
Given a poor-quality image, identify the factors
contributing to its effect.
Given exposure factors, explain their
contribution to poor image quality.
Calculate exposure technique factors to improve
image quality.
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Criteria for Image Evaluation
A quality radiographic image accurately
represents the anatomic area of interest, and its
information is well visualized for diagnosis.
Visibility of recorded detail
• Brightness or density
• Contrast
Sharpness of recorded detail
• Spatial resolution or recorded detail
• Distortion
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Brightness or Density
A radiograph must have sufficient brightness or
density to visualize the structures of interest.
Brightness is defined as the amount of
luminance (light emission) of a display monitor.
Density is defined as the amount of overall
blackness on the processed image.
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Brightness or Density (Cont.)
Sufficient brightness or Insufficient brightness or
density excessive density
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Radiographic Contrast
The radiograph must exhibit differences in the
adjacent brightness levels or densities in order
to differentiate among the anatomic tissues.
Gray scale used in digital imaging.
Scale of contrast used in film-screen imaging.
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Radiographic Contrast (Cont.)
High-contrast (short-scale) Low-contrast (long-scale)
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Radiographic Contrast (Cont.)
A, Radiograph demonstrating high contrast. B, Radiograph
demonstrating low contrast.
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Spatial Resolution/Recorded Detail
Anatomic details must be
recorded accurately and
with the greatest amount
of sharpness.
All radiographs have
some degree of
unsharpness.
Motion unsharpness
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Distortion
Radiographic
misrepresentation of
either the size or
shape of the anatomic
part
SID
OID
Central ray (CR)
alignment to part and
image receptor
Shape distortion
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Quantum Noise
Visible as brightness
or density fluctuations
as a result of too few
x-ray photons
reaching the image
receptor to form the
image.
Increased quantum noise
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Exposure Indicator
As a result of histogram analysis, the exposure
indicator provides a numerical value indicating
the level of radiation exposure to the digital
image receptor.
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Deviation Index (DI)
The DI is a value that reflects the difference
between the desired or target exposure to the IR
and the actual exposure to the IR.
DI = 0, there is no difference
DI > 0, increased exposure
DI < 0, decreased exposure
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Image Artifacts
Any unwanted image
on a radiograph
Plus-density artifacts
Minus-density artifacts
CR reader light guide
artifact
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Image Quality: Digital IR
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Image Quality: Film-Screen IR
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Exposure Technique Mathematical
Formulas
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Exposure Conversions
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