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Concepts of Radiologic Science

This document discusses fundamental concepts in radiological science including matter, energy, and x-rays. It covers the discovery of x-rays by Wilhelm Roentgen in 1895 using a Crookes tube. It also summarizes the early development of radiology including improvements to x-ray tubes and films that reduced exposure times and allowed radiography and fluoroscopy. The document outlines early reports of radiation injury and discusses basic radiation protection practices.

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Troy Quinto De Guzman
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173 views

Concepts of Radiologic Science

This document discusses fundamental concepts in radiological science including matter, energy, and x-rays. It covers the discovery of x-rays by Wilhelm Roentgen in 1895 using a Crookes tube. It also summarizes the early development of radiology including improvements to x-ray tubes and films that reduced exposure times and allowed radiography and fluoroscopy. The document outlines early reports of radiation injury and discusses basic radiation protection practices.

Uploaded by

Troy Quinto De Guzman
Copyright
© © All Rights Reserved
We take content rights seriously. If you suspect this is your content, claim it here.
Available Formats
Download as DOCX, PDF, TXT or read online on Scribd
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RADIOLOGIC PHYSICS (PRELIMS)

FUNDAMENTAL CONCEPTS OF RADIOLOGICAL SCIENCE

MATTER
 anything that occupies space and has mass
 MASS – primary characteristic of matter (quantity of matter contained in any physical object)
 consists of atoms held together by electromagnetic forces (how tight these bonds determine the state
of matter)
 when the kinetic energy of the atoms increases, the bonds between them weaken. Heating increases
the motion of atoms and causes the matter to go from solid to liquid to gas.
 ELEMENT – pure chemical substance consisting of one type of an atom
 COMPOUND – composed of 2 or more elements chemically linked (cannot be separated; different from
MIXTURE (e.g. salad) wherein you can separate the different ingredients)
 ATOM – smallest particle of an element
 MOLECULE – group of atoms of various elements held together / smallest unit of compound

ENERGY
 a measure of a physical system to perform/ to do work
o work – an abstract idea that is related to energy
 when work is done, it is accompanied by a change in energy
 when work is done by an object, it either loses or gains energy
 cannot be created or destroyed, only transferred from one form to another
 defined to be force times distance and is usually expressed in units of ergs (grams centimeter per sec);
for the International System (SI), energy is measured in joules (J) and in radiology, the unit electron volt
(eV) is often used.
 Huygens (1650’s) was the first to develop the terminology, stating that:
o energy is not like matter
o energy does not have size, shape or occupy space
o energy does not have inertia
 EPoNTheCK
o Electrical Energy
 due to movement of electrons
o Potential Energy
 virtue of position / energy at rest
o Nuclear Energy
 contained within the nucleus
o Thermal Energy
 heat / related to temperature
o Chemical Energy
 chemical reaction
o Kinetic Energy
 energy at motion
o Electromagnetic Energy
 least familiar form of energy; most important in our field; used in x-ray imaging
2

RADIOLOGIC PHYSICS (PRELIMS)

EXPOSED OR IRRADIATED
 matter that intercepts radiation and absorbs part or all of it is said to be exposed or irradiated
 example of radiation is the sunlight itself

X-RAYS ARE IONIZING RADIATION


 x-rays are special type of radiation
 x-rays are capable of removing an orbital electron from the atom with which it interacts
 IONIZATION
o occurs when an x-ray passes close to an orbital electron of an atom and transfers sufficient
energy to the electron to remove it from the atom
 ION PAIR
o the ejected orbital electron and the atom from which it was ejected are called an ion pair
o the electron is the negative ion and the atom is the positive ion

 SOURCES OF IONIZING RADIATION


o Natural Environmental Radiation
 accounts for approximately 300 millirem (mrem)
 cosmic radiation, terrestrial radiation and internally deposited radionuclides
 RADON – largest source of natural radiation
o Man-made Radiation
 accounts for approximately 60 mrem
 medical, nuclear medicine, occupational, nuclear power, industrial, consumer products
3

RADIOLOGIC PHYSICS (PRELIMS)


DISCOVERY OF X-RAYS
 In November 8, 1895, Wilhelm Conrad Roentgen was working on his laboratory at Wurzburg
University, Germany.
 He was studying the cathode rays from his Crookes’ Tube.
o Crookes’ Tube – invented by Sir William Crookes; forerunner of modern fluorescent lamps and
x-ray tubes
 He completely darkened his laboratory and enclosed his Crookes’ Tube with a black photographic
paper so that no light would pass through.
 Suddenly, a plate coated with barium platinocyanide placed several feet away started to glow.
Intensity of the glow increased as the plate was brought closer to the Crookes’ Tube.
 Glow – Fluorescence
o Luminiscence
 ability of some materials to emit light in response to some outside stimulation
 TYPES:
 Fluorescence – during stimulation
 Phosphorescence – after stimulation
 Roentgen named the invisible light as “X-Light”
 X-RAY PROPERTIES: Roentgen’s Discovery
o are highly penetrating, invisible rays which are a form of electromagnetic radiation
o are electrically neutral and therefore not affected by either electric or magnetic field
o can be produced over a wide variety of energies and wavelengths
o release very small amounts of heat upon passing through matter
o can ionize matter
o produce chemical and biological changes in matter through ionization and excitation
o produce secondary and scatter radiation
o travels in straight line and at the speed of light, 3 x 10 8 meters per second in a vacuum
(299, 792, 458 m/s or 29, 979, 245, 800 cm/s)

DEVELOPMENT OF MODERN RADIOLOGY


 3 Types of X-Ray Examinations
o Radiography – uses X-ray films; x-ray tube is mounted from the ceiling on a track; x-ray tube can
be moved in any direction; fixed images
o Fluoroscopy – an x-ray tube is located below the examination table; moving images can be
provided to radiologist
o CT-Scan – uses x-ray tube with an array of detectors that can image the patient at any angle and
view
 x-ray voltage is measured in kilovolt peak (kVp); x-ray currents are measured in milliamperes (mAs)
 radiographic intensifying screens – Michael Pupin (1896); reduced exposure time
 double-emulsion films (1904) – further reduced exposure time
 cellulose nitrate – substitute for x-ray glass plate
 Fluoroscope – invented by Thomas A. Edison (1898)
 In 1907, H.C. Snook, developed a high voltage power supply, an interrupterless transformer, the Snook
Transformer (however, this is not compatible with the Crookes’ Tube)
 In 1913, Sir William Coolidge developed a hot cathode x-ray tube, the Coolidge Tube which replaced
the Crookes’ Tube and now is compatible with the Snook Transformer
4

RADIOLOGIC PHYSICS (PRELIMS)

REPORTS OF RADIATION INJURY


 Clarence Dally
o assistant of Thomas Edison
o in 1904, his death was considered as the first ever x-ray fatality in the USA
o suffered severe x-ray burns that eventually resulted in amputations of both arms
 in coming years, the frequency of injuries increased
 skin damage, loss of hair and anemia

BASIC RADIATION PROTECTION


 after 1910, biologic effects of x-rays were scientifically investigated and reported
 x-ray workers were routinely investigated; they were provided with personnel radiation monitoring
devices
 protective apparel – lead impregnated material used to make aprons and gloves
 gonadal shielding – lead impregnated gonadal shields in persons of child-bearing age
 protective barriers – radiographic control console should be located behind a protective barrier-often
lead-lined and a leaded glass window
 always practice ALARA (As Low As Reasonably Achievable)

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