Radiation Exposure and Image Quality in X-Ray Diagnostic Radiology : Physical Principles and Clinical Applications

X-ray diagnostic radiology is a major world-wide activi­ All doses due to medical exposure for radiological purposes ex­ cept radiotherapeutic procedures . . . shall be kept as low as rea­ ty. In Europe approximately 250 million X-ray examina­ sonably achievable consistent with obtaining the required diag­ tions are performed annually, and in the United States of nostic information, taking into account economic and social fac­ America a similar level of radiological activity is under­ tors taken. This results in the fact that the largest contribution to radiation exposure to the population as a whole is This concept is known as the ALARA principle (as low as known to be from man-made radiation sources arising in reasonably achievable), the form of diagnostic X-rays (UNSCEAR 2000). It is also In Article 4, 2(a), the MED states that: known that exposures vary widely, due to differences in Member States shall promote the establishment and the use of X-ray techniques and the level of skill of the operator of diagnostic reference levels for radiodiagnostic examinations the equipment. Consequently radiation protection of the patient is a major aim in modern health policy. The two Diagnostic reference levels are defined in Article 2 of the basic principles of radiation protection of the patient as MED as: recommended by the International Commission on Ra­ Dose levels in medical radiodiagnostic practices . . . X-ray diagnostic radiology is a major world-wide activiƯ All doses due to medical exposure for radiological purposes exƯ cept radiotherapeutic procedures ... shall be kept as low as reaƯ ty. In Europe approximately 250 million X-ray examinaƯ sonably achievable consistent with obtaining the required diagƯ tions are performed annually, and in the United States of nostic information, taking into account economic and social facƯ America a similar level of radiological activity is underƯ tors taken. This results in the fact that the largest contribution to radiation exposure to the population as a whole is This concept is known as the ALARA principle (as low as known to be from man-made radiation sources arising in reasonably achievable), the form of diagnostic X-rays (UNSCEAR 2000). It is also In Article 4, 2(a), the MED states that: known that exposures vary widely, due to differences in Member States shall promote the establishment and the use of X-ray techniques and the level of skill of the operator of diagnostic reference levels for radiodiagnostic examinations the equipment. Consequently radiation protection of the patient is a major aim in modern health policy. The two Diagnostic reference levels are defined in Article 2 of the basic principles of radiation protection of the patient as MED as: recommended by the International Commission on RaƯ Dose levels in medical radiodiagnostic practices .. "The largest contribution to radiation exposure to the population as a whole arises from diagnostic X-rays. Protecting the patient from radiation is a major aim of modern health policy, and an understanding of the relationship between radiation dose and image quality is of pivotal importance in optimising medical diagnostic radiology. In this volume the data provided for exploring these concerns are partly based on X-ray spectra, measured on diagnostic X-ray tube assemblies, and are supplemented by the results of measurements on phantoms and simulation calculations. The book also features a CD-ROM containing a comprehensive database in the form of Excel files: X-ray spectra for general diagnostics and mammography, interaction coefficients of the most important elements, compounds and mixtures, characteristics of the primary and the imaging radiation field, data from various anti-scatter grids, dosimetric data, which are needed for the evaluation of patient dose, and further helpful information."--Jacket. The largest contribution to radiation exposure to the population as a whole arises from diagnostic X-rays. Protecting the patient from radiation is a major aim of modern health policy, and an understanding of the relationship between radiation dose and image quality is of pivotal importance in optimising medical diagnostic radiology. In this volume the data provided for exploring these concerns are partly based on X-ray spectra, measured on diagnostic X-ray tube assemblies, and are supplemented by the results of measurements on phantoms and simulation calculations. The book also features a CD-ROM containing a comprehensive database in the form of Excel files: X-ray spectra for conventional diagnostics and mammography, interaction coefficients of the most important elements, compounds and mixtures, characteristics of the primary and the imaging radiation field, data from various anti-scatter grids, dosimetric data, which are needed for the evaluation of patient dose, and further helpful information Front Matter....Pages I-VIII Front Matter....Pages 1-1 Introduction....Pages 3-4 Front Matter....Pages 5-5 Production and Measurement of X-rays....Pages 7-14 Interaction of Photons with Matter....Pages 15-25 Radiation Field and Dosimetric Quantities....Pages 27-34 Penetration of X-rays....Pages 35-44 Scattered Radiation....Pages 45-56 Image Receptors....Pages 57-67 Image Quality and Dose....Pages 69-81 Front Matter....Pages 83-83 Evaluation of Dose to the Patient....Pages 85-98 Scattered Radiation....Pages 99-108 Optimisation of Image Quality and Dose....Pages 109-116 Front Matter....Pages 117-121 X-ray Spectra....Pages 123-134 Interaction Coefficients....Pages 135-142 Characteristics of the Primary Radiation Beam....Pages 143-175 Characteristics of the Imaging Radiation Field....Pages 177-191 Miscellaneous....Pages 193-197 Patient Dose Estimation....Pages 199-205 Back Matter....Pages 207-212