CH.16.

X – Rays
X – rays:- electromagnetic radiation (EMR) of very short wave length (λ ‫ ے‬1 → 0.1 Ao ) &
very high penetrating power. It is very useful in diagnosis & radio therapy.

The amount of energy carried by each photon depends on the frequency of radiation:

E=hυ = hc/λ
Where
h = Plan's constant = 6.6*10-34 (joule. sec)
c = velocity of light = 3* 10 8 m/sec
υ = frequency of radiation

X – rays production :
To produce photons of X – rays we need :
1. A filament (is a concave part of cathode) which is a source of electrons.

2. Target (anode) which is strike by the electrons which have a negative charged and these
electrons are repelled by the cathode at attracted to the anode reaching it with very high
kinetic energy.

3. High positive voltage applied between the cathode and anode to accelerate the negative
electrons. In diagnostic radiography, this usually within the range 40 to 120 Kev.

4. An evacuated space ( with low pressure 10-6 tor ) : which is accelerate the electrons from the
cathode to the anode.

5. The space between the tubes insert(the enveloped and electrode )and the shield is filled with
oil, the oil converts heat from the insert to the tube shield(oil used to cool the target).
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NOTE: The energy of most electrons striking the target (99.8%) is dissipated in the form of
heat. The remaining few energy (0.2%) produce useful X- rays.

* The intensity of X – ray beam produced when the electron strike the anode is highly
dependent on the anode material:
1. the higher the atomic number (Z) of the target, the more efficiency X-ray are produced.
2. The target material used should also have a high melting point since the heat produced
when the electrons are stopped in the surface of the target is substantial.
* Nearly all X – ray tubes use tungsten targets. The atomic number (Z) of tungsten is 74, and its
melting point is about 3400Co.

Production of x-ray:-
There are two different mechanisms by which X-rays are produce. One give rise to
Bremsstrahlung (continuous) X-rays and the other characteristic X-rays.

Bremsstrahlung(continuous )X-Ray:-
When the electron get close enough to the nucleus of a target atom to be diverted from its path
and emits an x-ray photon that has some of its energy. X – ray produced in this way is
Bremsstrahlung. And it is also called white radiation since it is analogous to white light
and has a range of wavelengths.

The amount of Bremsstrahlung produced for a given number of electrons striking the
anode depends upon two factor:
1. the Z of the target ,the more protons in the nucleus the greater the acceleration of electrons.
2. the kilovolt peak-the faster the electrons ,the more likely they will penetrate into the region
of the nucleus.
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Characteristic X-ray:
A-fast electron strikes a K electron in a target atom and knocks out of its orbit and free of the
atom. The vacancy in the K shell is filled almost immediately when an electron from an outer
shell of the atom falls into, as indicated in figure, and in the process, a characteristic K X-ray
photon emitted.
when an electron falls from the L level to the K level is called a Kα characteristic x-ray and
that emitted when an electron falls from the M shell to the K shell is called a Kβ x-ray.

X-ray Energy Spectra

X-rays photons produced by an X-ray machine are heterogeneous in energy.
The spectrum of x-rays produce by a modern x-ray generator is shown in figure, the broad
smooth curve is due to the bremsstrahlung and the spikes represent the characteristic X-ray.
Many of the low energy (soft) x-ray photons produced are absorbed in the glass walls of the x-
ray tube.
* If no filtration inherent or added, of the beam is assumed, the calculated energy will be a
straight line (shown as doted line in fig).

‫سهيل جنم‬
* The purpose of added filtration is to enrich the beam with higher energy ‫ رجاء‬by
photon .‫د‬.‫م‬.‫أ‬
absorbing the lower energy components of the spectrum, and hence improving the
penetration power of the beam. ‫ كلية‬- ‫جامعة تكريت‬
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Attenuation of X-rays:
Is the reduction of x-ray beam due to the absorption & scattering of some of photons of the
beam.
* To measure the un attenuated (transmitted) beam intensity I, we use.

I = Io e -µx ----------(1)
where
Io = initial beam intensity.
I = un attenuated (transmitted) beam intensity.
μ = linear attenuation Coefficient.
e = 2.718
x = Thickness of the attenuator such as (brain tumor, bone, aluminum)
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Linear attenuation Coefficient (μ): measure the probability that photon interact (absorbed
or scattered) per unit length it travel in specified material.
It depends on:
1. energy of x-rays
2. atomic number (Z)
3. density (ρ) of material

Half value thickness HVT (X1/2) : is the thickness of material which reduce the intensity of
the beam of radiation one – half of its value (50%).

Figure. Transmitted intensity of x-ray versus the thickness of aluminum attenuator

At time x = x 1/2 then I = ( 1/2 ) Io

Substitute this condition in the equation (1) :
I = Io e -µx
... (1/2) Io = Io e - µ X 1/2
-µX 1/2
(1/2) = e
µ X 1/2
2-1 = e -
By taking Ln of both sides we get:
- Ln (2) = - µ X 1/2 × Ln e
0.693 = µ X 1/2 × 1 ‫ رجاء سهيل جنم‬.‫د‬.‫م‬.‫أ‬
... X1/2 = 0.693 / μ ‫ كلية‬- ‫جامعة تكريت‬
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Biological Effects :
Mass attenuation – coefficient :a portion of X-ray energy that will be absorbed by the
biological material & can produce changes at the cellular level.

The mass attenuation coefficient (μ/ρ) is obtained by dividing the linear coefficient by the
density of the material. Therefore independent of density and depends only on the atomic
number and photon energy.
μm=μ/ρ
There for the equation
I = Io e( – μ / ρ ). ρ x

Figure. Mass attenuation coefficient (μ/ρ) for various tissues,

Interaction of X-rays with matter:

There are three types of interaction between X-ray with matter contribute to attenuation.

1. Photoelectric effect (P.E):

The photoelectric effect is one way x-ray lose energy in the body. It occur when the incoming
x-ray photon transfers all of its energy to an electron which escapes from the atom (Fig).

P.E is more apt to occur in the intense electric field near the nucleus than in the outer levels
of atom and it is more common elements with high (Z) than in those with low Z.

When the energy of the x-ray is just slightly greater the binding energy of electron, the
probability that P.E effect will occur increase.

In the other word :

The energy of the photon is completely absorbed by the electron(eˉ ). The (eˉ ) eject out of
the atom & the atom will be positive ion.
Probability of photon electric occur at low X-rays energies.
It usually occur at a high atomic number (Z) of material. e.g.:
Muscles ≤ 30 KeV ‫ رجاء سهيل جنم‬.‫د‬.‫م‬.‫أ‬
Bone ≤ 50 KeV
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 Figure. X-ray lose energy in the photoelectric effect

2. Compton effect (C.E):

Another important X-ray lose energy in the body is done by C.E. Compton suggested that an
X-ray photon can collide with loosely bound outer electron much like a billiard ball collides
with another billiard ball.

At the collision, the electron receives part of energy and the remainder is given to a Compton
scattered photon ,which then travels in a direction different from that of the original x-
ray(figure)

In the other word :

The energy of the photon is partially absorbed by the electron (eˉ) which is ejected out of
the atom, the atom will be positive ion
The energy of a photon is reduce from hυ to hύ ,and they scattered in different direction.
C.E. occur greatest at low Z material. e.g.:
* In water or soft tissue C.E. is more probable occur than P.E effect at energy ≥ 30 KeV.
* In bone C.E. is more probable occur than the P.E. effect at energy ≥ 100 KeV.
* At 30 kev bone absorbed x-ray about 8 times better than tissue due to P.E effect.

Figure. X-ray lose energy in the Compton effect

3. Pair Production ( P.P ):
P.P is the third major way x-ray give up energy. When a very energetic‫سهيل جنم‬
photon‫رجاء‬ .‫د‬.‫م‬.‫أ‬the
enters
intense electric field of the nucleus ,it may converted into two particles an electron and
positron ( β )(positive electron). ‫ كلية‬- ‫جامعة تكريت‬
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 Providing the mass of the two particles requires a photon with an energy of at least 1.02
Mev and the remainder of the energy over 1.02 Mev is given to the particles as kinetic
energy.
After it has spent its kinetic energy in ionization it does a death dance with an electron Both
then vanish ,and their mass energy usually appear as two photon of 511 kev each called
annihilation radiation.
Since a minimum of 1.02 Mev is necessary for P.P,this type of interaction is only impotent at
very high energies.

Figure. X-ray lose energy in the pair production

* P.P is more apt occurs in high Z element than low Z element.
* P.P. is no use diagnostic radiology because of high energy needed .
* P.E. is more useful used in diagnostic than Compton effect because it need low energy
and primate us to see bone & other heavy material such as bullets in the body.

Figure. Mass absorption coefficient for water.

( P.E. and C.E. are about equally probable at about 30 kev,
‫سهيل جنم‬radiology.)
P.P. occurs only at high energies and is of no important in diagnostic ‫ رجاء‬.‫د‬.‫م‬.‫أ‬
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Film
X-ray film: is photographic film consisting of photographically active, or radiation-sensitive,
emulsion that is usually coated on both sides of transparent sheet of plastic, called the base.

* Firm attachment between he emulsion layer and the film base is achieved by use of a thin
layer of adhesive, as shown in figure:

* The adhesive layer allows the emulsion and base to maintain proper contact and integrity
during use and processing.

Emulsion
The two most important ingredients of a photographic emulsion are gelatin and silver halide,
and has emulsion coated on both sides of the base.
Gelatin.

Photographic gelatin for X-ray film is made from bone, mostly cattle bone from India. It keeps
the silver halide grains well dispersed and prevents the clumping of grains.

Processing (developing and fixing) solutions can penetrate gelatin rapidly without destroying,
and gelatin is available in a reasonably large quantity and uniform quality.

Silver halide.
Silver halide (AgI, AgBr) is the light-sensitive material in the emulsion. The halide in medical
X-ray film is about 90 to 99% silver bromide (AgBr) and about 1 to 10% silver iodide (AgI)
(the presence of AgI produces an emulsion of much higher sensitivity than a pure AgBr
emulsion).
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Latent Image
Metallic silver is black. It is silver that produces the dark areas seen on a developed
radiograph.
The energy absorbed from a light photon gives an electron in the bromide ion enough energy
to escape :
-
Br + light photon → Br + electron
The electron gives the sensitivity speck a negative charge, and this attracts the mobile
interstitial Ag+ ions in the crystal
Ag+ + electron → Ag
These clumps of silver atoms are termed latent image centers, and are the sites at which the
developing process will cause visible amounts of metallic silver to be deposited.

Photographic process: as follows :

1. Development :Immerse the exposed film in the developer solution to free the silver atoms in
those grains which have received sufficient exposure & contain latent image center.
2. Fixing : Fixing to neutralize the developer on the film & stop the developing action.
3. Washing : the film washed in running water to remove the fixing chemicals &dissolve silver
halides.
4. Drying :The final step in processing is to dry the radiograph, and this is done by blowing
warm dry air over both surfaces of the film as it is transported through the drying chamber.
* The total sequence the events involved in manual processing requires over 1hr.
* Most modern automatic processors are identified as 90 sec.

Photographic density
The X-ray image is present in the space between the patient and the X-ray film, we have seen
how the energy of the X-ray beam may be used to produce a visible pattern of black metallic
sliver on the X-ray film.

The degree of film blackening is directly related to the intensity of radiation reaching the
film . The measurement of film blackness is called "film density".

* when the light(X-rays)passes 100% of the beam there is no absorption at all, means film
density (ρ = 0). It is determined by:
1. Quantity of X-rays
2. Sensitivity of the film
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Note: More x-rays photons incident on the film more blacking color occur in the film, if less
X-rays photons incident on the film more whiting color occur in the fil
Sandwich Film: Usually put in light box and exposed to the light of this box for about 2 min.

Factors Affecting the image quality:

* The image of a stationary structure produce by the beam from an ideal point source would
be perfectly sharp. At the edge of shadow, the intensity of X-rays would change suddenly
from a height to a low value (Penumbra).
1. Using a small focal spot → to reduction. Penumbra.
a. Small focal spot 1 mm.
b. Large focal spot 2 mm.

2. The patient is placed as close to the film as possible (decreasing the object - film distance)
to reduce the penumbra:

3. Increasing the distance from the X-ray tube to the film (chest film distance is 180).

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4. Reduction the scattered radiation at the film by using a grid .

A grid. An "antiscatter" grid, seen in cross-section in figure, consists of thin (0.07 mm) strips
of a heavy metal (such as lead) sandwiched between thicker (0.18 mm) strips of
interspaced material (plastic, carbon fiber, or aluminum) , which are transparent to
X- rays.

The lead strips absorb (say, 90% of) the scattered rays which hit the grid obliquely, while
allowing (say, 70% of) the primary rays to pass through the gaps and reach the film

Contrast media
One of the problems in radiography is the low contrast between soft tissues. One way to
Increasing contrast is to use a lower kV;another way by using a contrast medium.

Radioopaque media: are chosen to have a sufficiently high atomic number to maximize
photoelectric absorption.(Iodine Z=53, Barium Z=56) are used as
contrast media. Contrast media are compounds of one or other of
these elements.

Contrasting : This technique is made to make further use of the photoelectric effect
radiologists often inject high Z material into different part of the body
(contrasting media).

e.g.:
1. Iodine injected into the blood stream to show the arteries
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2. Oily mist containing iodine is sometimes sprayed into the lungs to make ‫ رجاء‬Visible.
airways .‫د‬.‫م‬.‫أ‬
3. Barium compound is given oral to see parts of the upper Gl. ‫ كلية‬- ‫جامعة تكريت‬
4. Barium enemas to view the other end of the digestive system (lower GI).
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5. Air is used to replace some of fluid ventricles of the brain, which a pneumoecephalgram is
12
 taken.
6. Air & barium are used separately to show the same organ in a double contrasting study.

To avoid shadows in x-rays image

The radiologist must often take x-ray images from different directions, e.g. ..from the back,
the side & intermediate angle . Body section radiology or image of slices of the body are known
as tomography.

Axial tomography :
Is an image of slice across the body & is taken by rotating the X-ray tube & film around the
patient → useful in planning the treatment of cancer.

Computerized Axial Tomography (C.A.T) :

There is no image receptor, such as film. A collimated x-ray beam is directed on the patient,
and the attenuated remnant radiation is measured by a detector whose response is transmitted to
a computer.
The computer analyzes the signal from the detector, reconstructs an image, and displays the
image on a television monitor. The computer reconstruction of the cross sectional anatomy is
accomplished with mathematic equations adapted for computer processing called algorithms

Operational Model
First-Generation Scanners
The previous description of a finally collimated X-ray beam-single detector assembly
translating across the patient and between successive translations is characteristic of early CT
designs. These are now called First-generation CT scanners.

The original EMI scanner required 180 translations, each separated by a 1 degree rotation
 Scan time for first generation units was almost 5 minutes.

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Second-Generation scanner
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 Were also of the translate-rotate type, but these units are no longer produced. These units
incorporated the natural extension of the single detector to a multiple detector assembly
intercepting a fan-shaped rather than a pencil beam.

* The principal limitation of second-generation CT scanner was examination time, most

units were designed for scans times of 20 s or more.

Third-generation scanners
Third-generation scanners evolved in which the X-ray tube and detector array were rotated
concentrically about the patient. As rotate-only units, third generation scanners
accommodate scan times as low as 1 s.

* The third-generation scanner employs a curvilinear detector array containing at least thirty
elements and a fan beam. The number of detectors and the width of the fan beam, between 30
and 60 degree

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Fourth-Generation Scanners ‫ كلية‬- ‫جامعة تكريت‬
The fourth-generation design for CT scanner is, as for those of the third generation, a rotate-
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only motion.
* With fourth-generation machines, however, the X-ray source rotates but the detector
assembly does not. Radiation detection is accomplished through a fixed circular array of
detectors, which contains as many as 1000 individual elements.
* These units are capable of 1 s scanning times.
* The principal disadvantage of fourth-generation machines appears to be patient dose, which
is somewhat higher than that with other types of scanners.

Magnetic Resonance imaging (MRI ) or Nuclear MRI

MRI has several significant advantages over other diagnostic imaging modalities:
Best low-contrast resolution
No ionizing radiation
Direct multiplanar imaging
No bone or air artifacts
Direct flow measurements
Totally noninvasive

Magnetic Moments
Moving charges give rise to magnetic fields, charged and spinning would also posses a
magnetic field. This is indeed true. Consider the simplest nucleus, that of hydrogen, shown in
figure. the charge and spinning of the nucleus of hydrogen give rise to a magnetic field. The
nucleus is said to be a magnetic dipole, and the name for its magnetism is magnetic moment.

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* In most materials, such as soft tissue, these little magnetic moments are all oriented
randomly, as shown in figure other magnetic moments will be oriented in various
direction.

* This random orientation causes all the spins and magnetic moments to cancel, so that the
net magnetization ( M) in the patient of figure is zero.

* If the patient however, is placed in a strong magnetic field (B0), as in figure, the magnetic
moments will align themselves in the same direction as the external magnetic field, in fact
nearly as many align against the field as with it. A small excess of moments aligned with the
field gives the patient a net magnetization M. The patient becomes a magnet.

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* In summary the magnetic moments of individual hydrogen nuclei tend to align themselves
with the external magnetic field and add together to produce a net magnetization.

* Before RF (Radio frequency) transmission the nuclei are said to be at equilibrium with the
external magnetic field

* If the RF was transmitted into the patient as a pulse, nuclear excitation exists only
momentarily. One by one the nuclei flip and return alignment with B0.

The complex manner of retuning to equilibrium is called relaxation and time required for
return is the relaxation time.

* During relaxation an RF signal is emitted .as shown in figure, and this action is related
to the Magnetic Resonance Image (MRI) signal used to make an MR image.

The MRI signal emitted by the patient during relaxation is called a free induction decay
(FID), as shown in figure:

This shows how the signal intensity varies with time. If one takes this‫جنم‬ ‫رجاء سهيل‬and
relationship .‫د‬.‫م‬.‫أ‬
performs a rigorous mathematic exercise called a Fourier transform, the result is an Nucleur
Magnetic Resonance (NMR) spectrum, as seen in figure:.
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* Fourier transformation converts the relationship of signal intensity versus time to signal
intensity versus inverse time or frequency (Hz).

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