Principles of Imaging Science II (RAD 120)

Radiographic Grids

Image-Forming X-Rays
Four X-ray paths
• a. X-rays interact with patient and
scatter away from the receptor
• b. X-rays interact and are absorbed
(photoelectric absorption) within
patient
• c. X-rays are transmitted through
patient without interaction and strike
receptor
• d. X-rays interact with patient
(Compton scatter) and scatter
towards
• C and D are referred to the image-
forming x-ray photons

Radiographic Grid
• Used to reduce scatter
radiation from reaching the
image receptor (IR) through
absorption
• Cleans up scatter radiation
• Inherent part of bucky,
placed between the patient
and IR • When primary x-rays interact
with the patient, x-rays are
• Table or upright bucky scattered from the patient in all
usage directions.
– >60 kVp, 10 cm tissue

1
 Image Contrast
• Difference in optical
density between adjacent
structures
• High vs Low contrast High

– Skeletal anatomy
– Abdomen, Chest
Medium

Low

Radiographs of a cross section of long bone. A, High

contrast would result from the use of only transmitted,
unattenuated x-rays. B, No contrast would result from the
use of only scattered x-rays. C, Moderate contrast results
from the use of both transmitted and scattered x-rays. 4

Grid Design
• Radiolucent interspace material
with alternating radiopaque strips
– Aluminum, plastic or carbon fiber
for interspace
– Lead, tungsten, platinum, gold
strips
• Transmits x-rays traveling in a
straight line, oblique x-rays
absorbed by strips

The only x-rays transmitted through a grid

are those that travel in the direction of the
interspace. X-rays scattered obliquely
through the interspace are absorbed.

% Grid Surface X-ray Absorption

• Formula applied to determine the percentage of x-rays

exiting the body that will be absorbed
• Based upon grid design
– Lead strip width and interspace width
– Higher % yields > absorption

Surface area
of grid 6

2
 Application

Grid Ratio
• Grid Ratio is the height of
the grid strip (h) divided
by the thickness of the
interspace material (D).
T = strip width.
– Grid Ratio = h/D

• Affected by changing
– Height of lead strips
– Thickness of strips
– Width of interspace

Grid Ratio
• High ratio grids absorb
more scatter yet
require higher mAs or
kVp
High-ratio grids are more effective than
– mAs is factor of choice low-ratio grids because the angle of
deviation is smaller.
• 5:1, 6:1, 8:1, 10:1,
12:1, 16:1 ratio
designs

3
 Grid Ratio Application

10

Grid Frequency
• Number of strips or grid lines
per inch or cm
– 25 – 45 lines/cm, 60 – 110
lines/in
– 25 – 80 lines/cm, 60 – 200
lines/in
• Higher grid frequency
requires higher technique
– Less grid lines appear in image
– Often used in mammography
• 80 lines/cm, 200 lines/in
• Typically higher frequency grids
have thinner lead strips

11

Digital Imaging Systems

• Very high-frequency grids
– 103-200 lines/in
– 41-80 lines/cm
• Recommended for use with digital systems
– Minimizes grid line appearance

12

4
 Lead Content of Grid
• Lead content
– Most important factor in grid’s efficiency
– Measured in mass per unit area
• g/cm2
– High ratio grids tend to have highest lead content
– As lead content increases, removal of scatter
increases and therefore contrast increases

13

Application

14

Grid Performance
• Contrast Improvement Factor (k)
– Comparison of image contrast with a grid to image
contrast without a grid
– k is higher for higher ratio grids
• K = Radiographic contrast with grid
Radiographic contrast without grid
• Measured at 100 kVp using a step wedge
• Manufacturer Avg 1.5 – 2.5
– Use of a grid approximately doubles the contrast

15

5
 Grid Performance
• Bucky Factor
– Higher technique required Approximate Bucky Factor Values
with grid usage
• mAs X bucky factor avg Grid 70 90 120 Avg
Ratio kVp kVp kVp
– Measurement of technical
Non- 1 1 1 1
factor and patient dose
Grid
increase based upon
penetration of primary & 5:1 2 2.5 3 2
scatter radiation through 8:1 3 3.5 4 4
the grid 12:1 3.5 4 5 5
– Bucky factor increases with 16:1 4 5 6 6
increased grid ratio and
increased kVp

16

Approximate Exposure
Factor Changes Necessary
for Standard Grids
Grid Ratio mAs Increase kVp Increase

Non-Grid 1X 0

5:1 2X 8 – 10

6:1 3X 11 – 12

8:1/10:1 4X 13 – 15

12:1 5X 20 – 25

16:1 6X 30 – 40

17

Grid Types
Linear Parallel
Linear Focused
• Linear/Parallel
– Vertical lead strips do not
coincide with the primary
beam
– Absorption of 10 beam (Grid
cut-off) occurs with:
• Short SID
• Large IR

A parallel grid is constructed with parallel

grid strips. At a short source-to-image
receptor distance (SID), some grid cutoff
may occur.

18

6
 Parallel Grid

With a parallel grid, optical density

(OD) decreases toward the edge of the
image receptor. The distance to grid
cutoff is the source-to-image receptor
19
distance (SID) divided by the grid ratio.

Grid Types
• Linear/Focused
– Angled lead strips to
coincide with primary
beam divergence
– Focal distance set to SID
usage to minimize grid
cut-off

20

Comparison of Transmitted Photons

Parallel & Focused Grids

21

7
 Grid Focus

Convergent Line. Convergent Point.

Imaginary lines drawn above a The convergent line or point of a
linear focused grid from each focused grid falls within a focal
lead strip meet to form a range.
convergent point. The points
form a convergent line along the
length of the grid.

Grid Types

• Crossed (Criss-Cross,
Cross-Hatched)
– 2 parallel grids
perpendicular
– Not common
– High Grid cut-off if off-
centered to CR

23

Grid Types
• Moving grid mechanism
– Upright or table bucky activation
– Eliminate grid lines from image
• High frequency = less grid lines
possible
• Low frequency = more grid lines
possible
– Reciprocating
• 2 cm movement transversely
• Motor drives grid back and forth
during exposure
– Oscillating
• Circular movement 2-3 cm
movement
• Electromagnet pulls grid to one side
• Releases it during exposure
24

8
 Grid Types
• Grid Cap
– Permanently mounted grid, IR slides into device
– Used with a variety of IR sizes
• Grid Cassette
– Permanently mounted grid
– Specific grid sizes
• Wafer Grid
– Non-permanent grid mount, must be secured
– Specific grid size
25

Long vs. Short Dimension Grids

• Orientation of lead strips
for a long- and short-
dimension grid.

Grid Types
• Air-Gap (Air Filtration)
– Common on dedicated
Chest X-ray units
– Part is @10-15 cm from IR
( 4” - 6”)
– Similar to 8:1ratio grid
• 10” air gap equivalent to 6”
15:1 ratio grid
– mAs increased 10% per cm
gap
– Magnification results
unless SID is increased

27

9
 Grid Cutoff
• A decrease in the number of transmitted
photons that reach the image receptor
because of some misalignment of the grid
• Grid Errors
– Off-level grid
– Off-center grid
– Off-focus grid
– Upside-down focused grid

Grid Errors
• Off-level
– Parallel & focused
– Decreased density across
image

29

Grid Errors
• Off-Center (lateral decentering)
– Focused Grid
– Decreased density across
image
– Most common error

30

10
Grid Errors
• Off-focus
– Incorrect SID use
– Decreased density at edges of
image
• Direct relationship
– More critical with high ratio grid

• Upside-down
– Mobile radiography
– CR not directed to tube side
– Marked decreased density at
edges of image and points lateral
to CR

31

Grid Cutoff – Off Level

32

Grid Cutoff – Off Center

33

11
 Grid Cutoff – Off Focus

34

Grid Cutoff – Upside Down

Focused

35

Grid Cutoff

Upside-Down Focused Grid Cutoff. Off-Center Grid Cutoff.

Radiograph produced with an Radiograph demonstrating grid cutoff
upside-down focused grid caused by off-centering.

12
 Grid Errors - Moire Effect
• Zebra pattern
• Caused by
– Similar grid frequency to laser scanning
frequency in CR processing
– Using a grid cassette in the bucky tray
• Correct by
– Selecting a high grid frequency
– Use a moving grid mechanism
– Do not use two grids

37

• Patient dose
Grid Selection
• Kvp usage
• Scatter absorption
– <90 kVp 8:1 satisfactory
– >90 kvp >8:1 grids used

As grid ratio increases, transmission of scatter radiation decreases

faster than transmission of primary radiation. Therefore, cleanup of
scatter radiation increases.
38

Clinical Consideration in Grid Selection

Grid Degree of Off-Center Off-focus kVp Comments
Scatter latitude latitude
Removal

5:1 + Very Wide Very Wide Up to 80 Low cost; easy to use

6:1 + Very Wide Very Wide Up to 80 Low cost; mobile

radiography
8:1/10:1 +/+++ Wide/Wide Wide/Wide Up to 100 General stationary
exams
12:1 ++++ Narrow Narrow Over 110 Precise centering;
usually fixed mount
16:1 +++++ Narrow Narrow Over 100 Precise centering;
usually fixed mount

39

13
Summary

40

14