Topic 2 RT202

Technical Factors
In Radiography
Objectives
 At the end of the discussion, students should

be able to:
 Describe accurately the 4 technical factors involved in the
art of radiography.
 Understand how the production of X-ray is affected by the
choice of technical factors.
 Discuss how the 4 technical factors affect the quantity
and quality of radiation and understand their effect on
the quality of the image for both film-screen system and
digital imaging.
 Recognize that proper selection of exposure factor is
important in producing quality radiographic image.
 Recognize that proper selection of exposure factor is an
important aspect of radiation protection.
 Recognize the relationship of the 4 technical factors.
Internal Components
of X-ray Tube
X-ray Production
 X-rays are produced by energy conversion when fast-

moving electrons from the filament of the x-ray tube
interact with the anode.
cathode anode
 The kinetic energy of the electron is
converted to heat energy (99%) or
electromagnetic energy in the form of
X-rays (1%).
 X-rays are generated by two processes:
 Bremsstrahlung interaction
 Characteristic interaction
 Conditions needed are:
 A source of electrons
 A high-voltage across the tube
 A target
Bremsstrahlung Interaction
 Bremsstrahlung is a German word for breaking or

slowing down.
 It occurs when the incident electron interacts with the
force field of the nucleus.
Bremsstrahlung Interaction
http://profstelmark.com/Chapter_6
Characteristic Interactions
 Occurs when the incident electron interacts with an

inner-shell electron, and ionizing the atom.
Characteristic Interaction
Radiographic Exposures
 Exposure factors influence and determine the quantity

and quality of X-ray that will expose the patient.
 RADIATION QUANTITY refers to the intensity of X-ray
measured by mR.
 RADIATION QUALITY refers to the energy of the X-ray
beam and therefore its penetrability measured in HVL.
4 Technical Factors in
Radiography
 mA - milliampere
 Sec. - Time of exposure in seconds
 kVp - kilovoltage peak
 Distance - distance from the source of radiation to the image
receptor
mA
 It controls the current supplied to the

filament of the x-ray tube.
 Thus, it controls:
 The temperature of the filament, 
 The number of electrons that will be released by
thermionic emission, 
 The number of electrons that will travel from
cathode to anode, 
 The number of electrons that will bombard the
hard target, 
 The number of x-ray photons that will be created.
 Therefore it controls the intensity or the
quantity of x-ray beam.
sec
 It controls the length of time the tube will be energized.
 Thus, it controls:
 the length of time electrons produced
on the filament travels from cathode
to anode, 
 The number of electrons that will
bombard the hard target, 
 The number of X-ray photons that will
be created.
 Therefore it also controls the intensity of X-ray beam.
Relationship of mA and sec.
 mA and time of exposure are inseparable. Their

product (mAs) controls the intensity of the x-ray
photon.
mAs = mA x s
 Their relationship to intensity is directly proportional.
That if mA or time of exposure is doubled, intensity will
also double.
Reciprocity Law and
Reciprocity Law Failure
 Reciprocity law states that any combination
of mA and time which yield the same
product will result to the same density.
Ex. 100 mA x 0.1 sec = 10 mAs
200 mA x 0.05 sec = 10 mAs
500 mA x 0.02 sec = 10 mAs
 Reciprocity law failure states that at a very
short (.002 sec.) and very long (3 min.)
exposure time, the resultant density is
somewhat less than what is expected.
mAs
 mAs controls the intensity of X-ray photons.

 Thus:
 It controls the amount of radiation that will interact with the
patient body, and therefore the dose received by the patient, 

 It also controls the amount of X-ray photons that will interact with
the X-ray film, thus its density (film-screen system).
 Generally a film that has low density would require adjusting the mAs
by a factor of 2
 mAs also controls the amount of exposure of the digital
image recording medium, however image brightness is
automatically adjusted during computer processing to
achieve the desired level.
 Effect of mAs on digital imaging is more on the quantum
noise visible within the image. Low mAs increased the
quantum noise visible within the image. High mAs
produces low quantum noise but increases patient
exposure.
Distance
 The distance from the

source of radiation (focal
spot) to the image receptor
(X-ray film).
 X-ray beam comes from a
small source but diverges
as the distance from the
source increases.
 As the beam becomes more
spread out, it will produce
less intensity over the
square area.
Distance
 Distance affects the intensity of the X-ray beam that will interact
with the X-ray film and therefore also affects radiographic
density.
 Thus, in diagnostic imaging a fixed distance is employed for every
type of examination. Usually employing a distance of 72 in and
40 in.
 Distance has a direct relationship with magnification.
kVp
 kVp controls the voltage applied across the X-
ray tube.
 Thus, it controls :
 the potential difference between the cathode and
the anode, 
 the speed by which electrons travel from cathode
to anode, 
 the kinetic energy of the projectile electrons, and

 the energy of x-ray photons that will be created.
 Therefore it controls the energy or the
quality of the X-ray beam.
kVp
 kVp affects the penetrability of the X-ray beam and therefore the
image contrast/contrast resolution.
 The kVp to be used for every particular examination is usually
computed using the following formula:
kVp = thickness(cm) x 2 +
constant
 CALIPER – it is used to measure thickness of
the body in cm.
 Measurement should be done from the point
of entry of X-ray to the exit point.
example:
In an AP projection of the skull measurement
of thickness should be done from front to
back
 To a lesser extent, kVp also affects the beam intensity that reach
the X-ray film.
 As we increase the kVp, more photons will penetrate the body and
interact with the film.
 More photons will also interact through Compton and produce scatter
radiation that increases density.
kVp No Photoelectri Compton

interaction c
50 <1% 79% 21%
80 2% 46% 52%
110 7% 23% 70%
 Insufficient kVp in digital image recorded would also
have the same effect on quantum noise as the mAs.
15% kVp rule
 Increasing kVp by 15% will result to the same increase in

density as doubling the mAs.
 To increase density:
 increase mAs by 100%
 increase kVp by 15%
 To decrease density:
 decrease mAs by 50%
 decrease kVp by 15%
15% kVp rule
 To increase mAs by 100% without changing density

 decrease kVp by 15%
 To decrease mAs by 50% without changing density

 increase kVp by 15%
THANK YOU ☺

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Technical Factors

 At the end of the discussion, students should

 X-rays are produced by energy conversion when fast-

 Bremsstrahlung is a German word for breaking or

 Occurs when the incident electron interacts with an

 Exposure factors influence and determine the quantity

 It controls the current supplied to the

 It controls the length of time the tube will be energized.

 mA and time of exposure are inseparable. Their

 mAs controls the intensity of X-ray photons.

patient body, and therefore the dose received by the patient, 

 The distance from the

kVp No Photoelectri Compton

 Increasing kVp by 15% will result to the same increase in

 To increase mAs by 100% without changing density

 To decrease mAs by 50% without changing density

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