IPE REVIEW (PART-1)
TOPIC 2:
RADIOGRAPHIC FILM
LECTURER: LEANDRO DAYAO JR., RRT, MSRT
REFERENCE: STEWART BUSHONG
OBJECTIVES:
a. Discuss the construction of
radiographic film.
b. Describe the formation of latent
image.
c. List and define the characteristics
of x-ray film.
d. Identify the types of film used in
medical imaging.
e. Explain proper film handling and
storage.
X-ray Image Production
THE PRIMARY PURPOSE OF DIAGNOSTIC
RADIOLOGIC APPARATUS AND TECHNIQUES IS
TO TRANSFER INFORMATION FROM AN X-RAY
BEAM TO THE EYE-BRAIN COMPLEX OF THE
RADIOLOGIST.
THE X-RAY BEAM THAT EMERGES FROM THE X-
RAY TUBE IS NEARLY UNIFORMLY DISTRIBUTED IN
SPACE.
Terminologies
USEFUL OR PRIMARY X-RAY BEAM- THE
RADIATION THAT PASSES THROUGH THE
WINDOW OF THE TUBE
LEAKAGE RADIATION- X-RAYS OTHER THAN
PRIMARY BEAM
IMAGE RECEPTOR - THE MEDIUM THAT
CONVERTS X-RAY BEAM INTO VISIBLE
IMAGE
SCATTER RADIATION- THE RADIATION THAT
HAS INTERACTED WITH THE PATIENT
DIRECTION & ENERGY
REMNANT OR EXIT RADIATION- REFERS TO
THE X-RAYS THAT REMAIN AS THE USEFUL
BEAM THAT EXITS THE PATIENT
Types of X-ray Interaction
A- X-RAYS SCATTER BY COMPTON
INTERACTIONS
B- X-RAYS ABSORBED BY
PHOTOELECTRIC ABSORPTION
C- X-RAYS THAT EXIT THE PATIENT
WITHOUT INTERACTION.
Exit Beam/ Remnant Radiation
REFERS TO THE X-RAYS THAT REMAIN
AS THE USEFUL BEAM THAT EXITS THE
PATIENT.
IT CONSISTS OF THE X-RAYS
SCATTERED AWAY FROM THE IMAGE
RECEPTOR AND IMAGE FORMING
RAYS.
RADIOGRAPHIC FILM VS. PHOTOGRAPHIC FILM
THE CONSTRUCTION AND
CHARACTERISTICS OF RADIOGRAPHIC
FILM ARE SIMILAR TO THOSE REGULAR
PHOTOGRAPHIC FILM.
HOWEVER, RADIOGRAPHIC FILM IS
MANUFACTURED WITH RIGOROUS
QUALITY CONTROL AND HAS A
SPECTRAL RESPONSE DIFFERENT FROM
THAT OF PHOTOGRAPHIC FILM.
Radiographic Film Construction
Radiographic Film has two
basic parts.
Base
Emulsion
In most x-ray films, the
emulsion is coated on both
sides (double-emulsion film)
Thickness of radiographic film
is approximately 150-300 um
Adhesive Layer (Substratum)
- ensures uniform adhesion
of the emulsion to the base
Overcoat - protects emulsion
from scratches, pressure,
and contamination during
handling, processing, and
storage and allows for
relatively rough manipulation
of x-ray film before exposure.
A. Radiographic Film Base
Foundation of the radiographic film
Provides a surface and support for
the emulsion.
The base is usually tinted blue to
reduce light glare , eyestrain and
fatigue.
The amount of tint varies per
specifications of different
manufacturers
Materials used as film base:
Glass Plate
Original film base
During World War I - become largely unavailable while
medical applications of x-rays, particularly by the
military, were increasing rapidly
Cellulose Nitrate (1920-1930)
Substitute for Glass Plate
Disadvantage: flammable
Cellulose Triacetate (mid 1920)
has similar properties to cellulose nitrate but is not as
flammable “safety base”
Polyester (1960s)
more resistant to warping from age
stronger than Cellulose Nitrate and Cellulose Triacetate
Thinner than triacetate bases (approx 175 um)
Dimensional Stability
A property of a radiographic
film base that enables film to
maintain its size and shape
during use and processing so
that it does not contribute to
image distortion.
B. Emulsion Layer
This is the active layer; “heart” of the film
It is the material with which x-rays or
light photons from I.S. interact and
transfer information
Consists of a homogeneous mixture of
gelatin and silver halide cystals
Thickness - 3-5 um
Gelatin
acts as a suspension agent and prevents the
crystals from adhering to one another.
Flexible and does not crack easily on bending
The gelatin is clear so it transmits the light to the
silver halide crystals.
It is porous so the processing chemicals can
penetrate to the silver halide crystals.
Primary function: provide a support medium for the
silver halide crystals by holding them in place.
Silver Halide Crystals
Active ingredient of the radiographic
film emulsion
Composed of:
98% Silver Bromide
2% Silver Iodide
Shapes: tabular, cubic, polygonal, Z:
octahedral Bromine (Br) = 35
Tabular - most common Silver (Ag) = 47
Iodine (I) = 53
About 0.1 um thick and 1um in
diameter
The interaction b/n of x-ray and light
photons with these high-Z numbers
results in the formation of latent image
(invisible image)
Silver Halide Crystal
Crystal lattice:
Composed of Silver, Bromine. Iodine
atoms
Silver ions - Cations; positively
charged ion
Bromine and Iodine - Anions;
negatively charged ions
Normal Structure:
Negative Surface Charge (-)
Interstitial Silver Ions (+)
Sensitivity Center
Silver Sulfide
Tabular Grain Emulsion
Most superior to the types of crystals
because they are flat and can be
evenly distributed which eliminated
the problem of structure mottle,
which gives the image a desirable
grainy appearance.
Characteristics of Radiographic Film:
Contrast
the ability of radiographic film to provide certain level of
image contrast.
High-contrast film produces black-and white images.
Low-contrast film produces images with shades of gray.
Latitude
The range of exposure techniques (kVp and mAs) that
produce an acceptable image.
Speed
The ability of the film to respond to light or x-rays
Speed is the sensitivity of the screen-film combination to
x-rays and light. Fast screen-film combinations need
fewer x-rays to produce a diagnostic image.
Crossover
When light is emitted from a radiographic
intensifying screen, it exposes not only the
adjacent film emulsion but also the emulsion
on the other side of the base. The light
crosses over the base and blurs the
radiographic image.
Spectral Matching
Radiographic intensifying screens emit light
when exposed to x-rays, and the emitted
light then exposes the radiographic film. The
color of light emitted must match the
response of the film.
Rare Earth Screens (Z = 57-71) = Faster
screens
Ex. Blue-sensitive film should be used only
with blue or ultraviolet-emitting I.S.
Reciprocity Law
The reaction of the radiographic film to
light is equal to the product of
intensity of light and the duration of
exposure
The density of the x-ray film should
remain unchanged as long as the
intensity and exposure remains
unchanged.
Reciprocity Law Failure
Very short exposure time (1ms)
and very long exposure time
(>1s) results to loss of speed.
Latent Image
An invisible image formed
when a silver halide grain is
exposed to X-rays or light
(from intensifying screen)
Formation of the Latent Image
Gurney-Mott Theory
A theory of the photographic process that
proposes a two-stage mechanism
First stage - a light quantum is absorbed at a
point within the silver halide gelatin, releasing
a mobile electron and a positive hole; these
mobile defects diffuse to trapping sites
(sensitivity centers) within the volume or on
the surface of the grain
Second stage - trapped (negatively charged)
electron is neutralized by an interstitial
(positively charged) silver ion, which
combines with the electron to form a silver
atom; the silver atom is capable of trapping a
second electron, after which the process
repeats itself, causing the silver speck to
grow.
Sensitivity Center/ Speck
The imperfections found in the
crystal structure.
The chemical mixture involved
in the production of tiny
crystals does not produce a
perfect structure.
Chemical contaminant - Silver
sulfide
Types of Films
1. Screen film used with intensifying screens.
Single emulsion- emulsion on one side of base.
Double emulsion used with two screens.
2. Direct Exposure Film (non-screen)
Direct Exposure or Non Screen Film
Used w/o intensifying screens
Used mainly for extremities, previously for
mammography
Requires 10 – 100 times more the exposure
dose
The emulsion is thicker than screen film
Renders excellent detail
Mammography Film
Single emulsion
The surface of the base opposite
the screen is coated with a
special light- absorbing dye to
reduce reflection of screen light.
LASER FILM
Uses a laser printer
Provides excellent image quality
Sensitive to red light
Must be processed in complete darkness
Single emulsion film
Used in CT, MRI and Nuclear Medicine
Specialty Films
Cine film
Used with cardiac
catheterization
Produced in 16 and 35mm
sizes
Also used for radiography of
the esophagus
Spot film
Produced in 70 and 105mm
sizes
Used in fluoroscopy with a
spot film camera
Video Film
Exposes images displayed on a
video monitor
Can format to present up to 16
images on one film
SUBTRACTION FILM
A type of single emulsion
film used with angiography
One type prepares a positive
copy of the image
The other type enhances
subject contrast and detail
First in, First out rule!
Do you have any
questions?
Thank you for
listening!
