Laura Ramirez

03/09/2017
RTE 142
Professor Yost

Notebook# 7
Density:
Radiographic density is the degree of blackening of an x-ray film. It is created by
deposits of black metallic silver within the emulsion of an x-ray film that has been exposed to
light or x-ray and then processed. On the resulting radiographic image, the densities are the
direct result of an x-ray exposure to the film and intensifying screen (image receptors). The term
density might be used to describe the level of brightness on the monitor (how light or dark the
image is), the relationship of this brightness level does not correspond to the IR exposure. When
film is not used, the key relationship becomes simply the IR exposure and the term density is
better used when discussing the amount of silver deposited in a hard-copy film image.

If the exposure to a film is increased, the density to the film will increase until the point
where the film reaches its maximum density. Because density is primarily determined by the
amount of exposure a film receives, and because exposure is directly proportional to mAs, mAs
is used as the primary controller of radiographic film density and image receptor exposure. As
mAs increases, x-ray exposure increases proportionally and radiographic density also increases.
According to the ARRT, radiographic density is the degree of blackening or opacity of an area in
a radiograph due to the accumulation of black metallic silver following exposure and processing
of a film.

When mAs is increased, the density on the film is increased like shown on Figure 11-1B and
Figure 11-1C below. Pg.182

The resulting film is darker than the original. Using a digital imaging system, these changes
would not likely be evident on the monitor; post-processing can adjust the image so that it will
display on the monitor as if the image were properly exposed. Post-processing is not designed to
be used to correct poor exposures. This is why evaluating the numeric exposure value is critical.
Whether in a digital or film/ screen environment, Milliamperage-second (mAs) is the primary
controlling factor that will affect the x-ray quantity and the resultant density/IR exposure.
Density/image receptor (IR) exposure is one of the two photographic properties that comprise
visibility of detail. In the digital environment this important quality factor has not changed but
can be expressed simply as IR exposure because film is no longer the primary IR. Brightness and
density are not interchangeable terms. Brightness is a monitor control function that can change
the lightness and darkness of the image on a display monitor but it is not related to IR exposure.
In both film screen and digital imaging, the visibility of the image has always been the result of
the proper exposure to the IR. According to the ARRT, brightness is the measurement of
luminance of a monitor calibrated in units of candela (cd) per square meter on a monitor or soft
copy. Density on a hard copy is the same as film.

Effects on Density/IR Exposure When Factors Are Changed

Negligible effect
Increase contrast(+) Decrease contrast(-)
()
Increasing Decrease
Controlling factors Focal spot size
milliamperage-seconds milliamperage-seconds
Anode heel
Increasing kilovoltage Decreasing kilovoltage
effect
Increasing number of Decreasing number of
pulses in the generator pulses in the generator
waveform waveform
Decreasing distance Increasing distance
Decreasing filtration Increasing filtration
Decreasing beam Increasing beam
restriction/collimation restriction/collimation
Decreasing anatomical Increasing anatomical
part of thickness or part of thickness or tissue
Influencing factors tissue type type
Using radiolucent Using radiopaque contrast
contrast media media
Destructive pathological Additive pathological
conditions condition
Decreasing grid ratio Increasing grid ratio
Increasing film/screen Decreasing film/screen
combination relative combination relative
speed speed
Increasing film Decreasing film
processing developer processing developer
time, temperature, and/or time, temperature, and/or
replenishment rate replenishment rate
 Image analysis: factors affecting density

Density/ image receptor exposure

Controlling Influencing
Other influencing factors
factor: mAs factor: kVp
Anode heel Beam Image
Focal spot Distance Filtration Anatomical part Grid construction
effect restriction receptor
Tissue type Digital
Ratio
Tissue thickness systems
Contrast media Film/screen
Frequency
Pathology systems

Image analysis: factors affecting contrast

Contrast
Controlling Influencing
Other influencing factors
factor: mAs factor: kVp
Anode heel Beam Grid Image
Focal spot Distance Filtration Anatomical part
effect restriction construction receptor
Tissue type Digital
Ratio
Tissue thickness systems
Contrast media Film/screen
Frequency
Pathology systems
Contrast:
Contrast is one of the two properties that comprise visibility of detail. Image contrast is the
difference between adjacent densities/IR exposures. The term dynamic range describes the
concept of contrast as it is displayed on soft-copy monitor for digital images. For radiographic
images, the term contrast/dynamic range can be applied. The term window width accurately
describes the digital processing that produces changes in the range of brightness, so it is
appropriate to use when controlling image contrast. Contrast consists of various densities/ IR
exposures, a thorough knowledge of the factors that control density/ IR exposure is a prerequisite
to understanding it. When the differences between adjacent densities that comprise contrast are
great, the image is described as high contrast. The result is fewer discernible shades of gray.
Conversely, when the differences are minimal, the image is described as low contrast.

Looking at the figure below A-F show progressively less discernible shades of gray. A having
the lowest contrast and F having the fewest shades of gray making it the highest contrast for the
digital images displayed.

Film contrast is the range of densities that the film is capable of recording. Mathematically, this
is expressed as the slope of the D log E curve. Film contrast depends on four factors: the use of
intensifying screens, film density, the D log E curve, and processing. Although the exact reason is
unknown, contrast is always lower for a film exposed to x-rays only than it is for the same film
exposed to light from intensifying screens. When the film is correctly exposed, the densities fall
within the visible range. An underexposed film occurs when the exposure places the developed
densities into the toe. An overexposed film occurs when the exposure places the developed
densities into the shoulder. The decrease in contrast of underexposed and overexposed films
occurs because the slope is not as steep in the toe and shoulder. According to the ARRT,
radiographic contrast is defined as the visible differences between any two selected areas of
density levels within the radiographic image. Scale of contrast refers to the number of densities
visible (or the number of shades of gray). Long scale is the term used when slight differences
between densities are present (low contrast) but the total number of densities is increased. Short
scale is the term used when considerable or major differences between densities are present (high
contrast) but the total number of densities is reduced.

The effect of the film density on contrast

Digital image receptor contrast. The primary method for adjusting display contrast with digital
imaging systems is through window width manipulations. Digital response curves can be varied
in their sensitivity to the incoming x-ray photons and therefore to the range of densities/IR
exposures available for acquisition processing and/or display. As digital images undergo post-
processing, both the histogram and look-up table (LUT) that are used may affect the final image
contrast that is displayed. Image processing will provide the proper grayscale, regardless of most
variations in kVp and mAs. The proper kVp is important for the desired differential attenuation
through the patient for a given examination. This differential attenuation causes signal
differences to the digital detector. According to the ARRT, image contrast of display contrast is
determined primarily by the processing algorithm (mathematical codes used by the software to
provide the desired image appearance). The default algorithm determines the initial processing
codes applied to the image data. Scale contrast is synonymous to gray scale and linked to the
bit depth of the system. Gray scale is used instead of scale of contrast when referring to
digital images.
 Effects of Changing Factors on Contrast
Increase contrast(+) Decrease contrast(-) Negligible effect ()
Decrease kilovoltage Increasing kilovoltage
Controlling factors Decreasing number of Increasing number of
pulses in the generator pulses in the generator
waveform waveform
Increasing
Increasing OID Decreasing OID milliamperage-
seconds
Decreasing
Decreasing filtration Increasing filtration milliamperage-
seconds
Increasing beam Decreasing beam Focal spot size
restriction/collimation restriction/collimation changes
Decreasing amount of Increasing amount of
Anode heel effect
irradiated tissue irradiated tissue
Increasing the Decreasing the
differences between differences between
Influencing factors Increasing SID
the atomic number of the atomic number of
the tissue the tissue
Decreasing density of Increasing density of
Decreasing SID
tissue tissue
Using contrast media
Increasing
(increasing or
film/screen relative
decreasing atomic
speed
number)
Destructive Decreasing
Additive pathological
pathological film/screen relative
condition
conditions speed
Increasing grid ratio Decreasing grid ratio