SOUTHERN LUZON STATE UNIVERSITY

COLLEGE OF ALLIED MEDICINE

BACHELOR OF SCIENCE IN RADIOLOGIC TECHNOLOGY

RAD03: RADIATION PRODUCTION AND CHARACTERISTICS

CHAPTER 10: X-RAY INTERACTION WITH MATTER

FIVE X-RAY INTERACTIONS WITH MATTER Compton Effect

𝑬𝒊 = 𝑬𝒔 (𝑬𝒃 + 𝑬𝑲𝑬 )
Low-energy x-rays interact with the whole
atom. ANGLE OF DEFLECTION
Moderate-energy x-rays interact with electrons. • 0°: no energy is transferred.
High-energy x-rays interact with nuclei. • 180°: more energy is transferred; scattered x-
ray retains at least approximately 2/3 of its
COHERENT SCATTERING original energy.
• Other names: Classical Scattering or
Thompson Scattering. “The probability of Compton scattering
• occurs at: >10 keV x-rays is inversely proportional to x-ray energy
• result: a change in direction of the x- (1/E) and independent of atomic
ray without a change in its energy number.”
• the incident x-ray interacts with a target atom,
causing it to become excited. BACKSCATTER RADIATION
• the direction of the scattered x-ray is different • x-ray scattered back in the direction of the
from that of the incident x-ray. incident x-ray beam.
• no energy transfer, therefore, no ionization. • the probability of Compton scattering does not
• scattered in the forward direction. depend on the atomic number of the atom
• at 70 kVp, a few percent of x-rays undergo involved.
coherent scattering.
“Compton scattering reduces image
• IMAGE NOISE – general graying of an image; contrast.”
reduces image contrast.
• scattered x-ray λ = incident x-ray λ (λ = λ′)
Features of Compton Scattering
“Coherent scattering is of little most likely to • with outer-shell
importance to diagnostic radiology.” occur… electrons.
• with loosely bound
COMPTON SCATTERING electrons.
• occurs between moderate-energy x-rays and • increased penetration
outer-shell electrons. through tissue without
• interaction with outer-shell electrons that not interaction.
only scatters the x-ray but reduces its energy as x-ray energy • increased Compton
and ionizes the atom as well. increases… scattering relative to
• the incident x-ray interacts with an outer-shell photoelectric effect.
electron and ejects it from the atom, thereby • reduced Compton
ionizing the atom. scattering (≈1/E).
• COMPTON/SECONDARY ELECTRON – the as atomic number • no effect on Compton
ejected electron from the atom. of absorber scattering.
• result: a change in x-ray direction and increases…
reduction of energy as mass density • proportional increase
• scattered x-ray λ > incident x-ray λ (λ > λ′) of absorber in Compton scattering.
increases…
JAY FRANCIS Q. BRIL MARY MITCHELLE M. PUNO, RRT
BSRT-2 Instructor
 SOUTHERN LUZON STATE UNIVERSITY
COLLEGE OF ALLIED MEDICINE
BACHELOR OF SCIENCE IN RADIOLOGIC TECHNOLOGY

RAD03: RADIATION PRODUCTION AND CHARACTERISTICS

PHOTOELECTRIC EFFECT Effective Atomic Number of Materials Important to
• x-rays undergo ionizing interactions with inner- Radiologic Science
shell electrons. Type of Substance Effective Atomic Number
• result: the x-ray is not scattered, but it is HUMAN TISSUE
totally absorbed. Fat 6.3
• characteristic radiation is produced. Soft tissue 7.4
• PHOTOELECTRON – electron removed from the Lung 7.4
atom. Bone 13.8
CONTRAST MATERIAL
Photoelectric Effect Air 7.6
𝑬𝒊 = 𝑬𝒃 + 𝑬𝑲𝑬 Iodine 53
Barium 56
OTHER
“The probability of the photoelectric Air 17
effect is inversely proportional to the Molybdenum 42
third power of the x-ray energy (1/E)³.” Tungsten 74
Lead 82

“The probability of photoelectric effect Features of Photoelectric Effect

is directly proportional to the third most likely to occur… • with inner-shell
power of the atomic number of the electrons.
absorbing material (Z³).” • with tightly bound
electrons.
Atomic Number and K-Shell Electron Binding Energy • when x-ray energy is
of Radiologically Important Elements just higher than
electron binding
Element Atomic Number K-Shell Electron
energy.
Binding Energy
(keV) as x-ray energy • increased penetration
increases… through tissue without
Hydrogen 1 0.02
Carbon 6 0.3 interaction.
Nitrogen 7 0.4 • less photoelectric effect
Oxygen 8 0.5 relative to Compton
scattering.
Aluminum 13 1.6
• reduced absolute
Calcium 20 4.1
photoelectric effect
Molybdenum 42 19
(≈1/E)³.
Rhodium 46 23
as atomic number of • increases
Iodine 53 33
absorber increases… proportionately with the
Barium 56 37
cube of the atomic
Tungsten 74 69
number (Z³).
Rhenium 75 72
as mass density of • proportional increase in
Lead 82 88
absorber increases… photoelectric
absorption.

JAY FRANCIS Q. BRIL MARY MITCHELLE M. PUNO, RRT

BSRT-2 Instructor
 SOUTHERN LUZON STATE UNIVERSITY
COLLEGE OF ALLIED MEDICINE
BACHELOR OF SCIENCE IN RADIOLOGIC TECHNOLOGY

RAD03: RADIATION PRODUCTION AND CHARACTERISTICS

PAIR PRODUCTION THREE TYPES OF X-RAYS ARE IMPORTANT TO THE
• the interaction between the x-ray and the MAKING OF A RADIOGRAPH:
nuclear field (causes the x-ray to disappear). a. scattered by Compton interaction;
• result: two electrons appear, with opposite • doesn’t provide diagnostic information.
charge (neutrons): • result: image noise
• positron 0.51 meV b. absorbed photoelectrically; and
• negatron 0.51 meV • provides diagnostic information.
• occurs at: 1.02 meV x-rays • appearance: radiopaque
• very important for positron emission tomography c. transmitted through the patient without
imaging in nuclear medicine. interaction.
• ANNAHILATION RADIATION – when a positron • provides diagnostic information.
unites with a free electron, and the mass of both • appearance: radiolucent
particles is converted to energy in a process.
TWO OTHER FACTORS IMPORTANT IN MAKING A
“Pair production does not occur during RADIOGRAPH
x-ray imaging.” • x-ray emission spectrum
• mass density of patient tissue
PHOTODISINTERGRATION
• incident x-rays can escape interaction with IMAGE NOISE
electrons and the nuclear field and be absorbed • a generalized dulling of the image by x-rays not
directly by the nucleus. representing diagnostic information.
• the nucleus is raised to an excited state and
instantly emits a nucleon or other nuclear RADIOGRAPHIC IMAGE
fragment. • results from approximately 0.5% of the x-rays
emitted by the x-ray tube.
“Photodisintegration does not occur
during x-ray imaging.” “Differential absorption increases as the
kVp is reduced.”

𝑬𝒔 scattered x-ray energy DEPENDENCE ON ANATOMIC NUMBER

𝑬𝒃 electron binding energy • the relative probability of interaction between
𝑬𝑲𝑬 electron kinetic energy bone and soft tissue (differential absorption)
remains constant, but the absolute probability of
DIFFERENTIAL ABSORPTION each decreases with increasing energy.
• an x-ray image results from the difference
between those x-rays absorbed photoelectrically DEPENDENCE ON MASS DENSITY
in the patient and those transmitted to the • the quantity of matter per unit volume.
image receptor. • units: kg/m³ or g/m³
• results: image contrast & formation of the x- • water: 1,000 kg/m³
ray image • ice: 917 kg/m³
• occurs because of:
• Compton Scattering
• Photoelectric Effect
• X-rays transmitted through the patient

JAY FRANCIS Q. BRIL MARY MITCHELLE M. PUNO, RRT

BSRT-2 Instructor
 SOUTHERN LUZON STATE UNIVERSITY
COLLEGE OF ALLIED MEDICINE
BACHELOR OF SCIENCE IN RADIOLOGIC TECHNOLOGY

RAD03: RADIATION PRODUCTION AND CHARACTERISTICS

Mass Density of Materials Important to Radiologic
Science “The interaction of x-rays with tissue is
Substance Mass Density (kg/m³) proportional to the mass density of the
HUMAN TISSUE tissue regardless of the type of
Lung 320 interaction.”
Fat 910
Soft tissue, muscle 1,000 CONTRAST EXAMINATION
Bone 1,850
CONTRAST MATERIAL CONTRAST AGENT
Air 1.3 • compounds used as an aid for imaging internal
organs with x-rays.
Barium 3,500
Iodine 4,930 • POSITIVE CONTRAST AGENT: higher Z than
the surrounding tissue.
OTHER
• e.g. barium (Z=56) & iodine (Z=53)
Calcium 1,550
Concrete 2,350 • NEGATIVE CONTRAST AGENT: lower Z than
the surrounding tissue.
Molybdenum 10,200
Lead 11,350 • e.g. air
Rhenium 12,500
LOW-kVp TECHNIQUE
Tungstate 19,300
• produces excellent, high-contrast radiographs of
the organs of the gastrointestinal tract.
Characteristics of Differential Absorption
• e.g. <80 kVp
as x-ray energy • fewer Compton
increases… interactions.
HIGH-kVp TECHNIQUE
• many fewer
• examinations not only to outline the organ under
photoelectric
investigation but also to penetrate the contrast
interactions.
medium so the lumen of the organ can be
• more transmission visualized more clearly.
through tissue.
• e.g. >90 kVp
as tissue atomic number • no change in Compton
increases… interaction. DOUBLE-CONTRAST EXAMINATION
• many more • uses air for contrast in some examinations of the
photoelectric colon along with barium.
interactions.
• less x-ray EXPONENTIAL ATTENUATION
transmission.
as tissue mass density • less x-ray ABSORPTION PROCESS
increases increases… transmission. • an interaction wherein the x-ray disappears.
• proportional increase in • e.g. photoelectric interaction, pair production,
Compton interactions. and photodisintegration
• proportional increase in • Compton scattering: partial absorption
photoelectric
interaction.
• proportional reduction
in x-ray transmission.

JAY FRANCIS Q. BRIL MARY MITCHELLE M. PUNO, RRT

BSRT-2 Instructor
 SOUTHERN LUZON STATE UNIVERSITY
COLLEGE OF ALLIED MEDICINE
BACHELOR OF SCIENCE IN RADIOLOGIC TECHNOLOGY

RAD03: RADIATION PRODUCTION AND CHARACTERISTICS

ABSORPTION
• the removal of an x-ray from a beam through a
photoelectric effect.
• all-or-none condition for x-ray interaction.

ATTENUATION
• total reduction in the number of x-rays
remaining in an x-ray beam after penetration
through a given thickness of tissue.

X-RAY ATTENUATION
• when a broad beam of x-rays is incident on any
tissue, some of the x-rays are absorbed, and
some are scattered.
• result: reduced number of x-rays

“Attenuation is the product of

absorption and scattering.”

JAY FRANCIS Q. BRIL MARY MITCHELLE M. PUNO, RRT

BSRT-2 Instructor