10.1 X-ray imaging

• What is a key property of X-rays that allows them to penetrate human tissue?

  High penetrating power
• Which factor increases both X-ray energy and intensity in an X-ray tube?

  Tube voltage
• Match the X-ray production process with its description:

  Bremsstrahlung Radiation ↔️ Electrons decelerated by target material

  Characteristic Radiation ↔️ Electrons knock out inner shell electrons
• Match the X-ray attenuation process with its description:

  Photoelectric Absorption ↔️ Photon completely absorbed by atom

  Compton Scattering ↔️ Photon scatters off electron

  Pair Production ↔️ Photon converts into electron-positron pair
• What is the primary mechanism underlying the formation of an X-ray image?

  X-ray attenuation
• Match the X-ray attenuation process with its mechanism:

  Photoelectric Absorption ↔️ Photon completely absorbed

  Compton Scattering ↔️ Photon scatters off an electron

  Pair Production ↔️ Photon converts into electron-positron pair
• What is the typical wavelength range of X-rays?

  0.01 to 10 nanometers
• X-ray tubes generate X-rays by accelerating electrons from a cathode towards a target
• Increasing the tube voltage in an X-ray tube increases the X-ray energy
• X-ray wavelengths are typically between 0.01 and 10 nanometers.


  True
• Steps in X-ray production using X-ray tubes

  1️⃣ Thermionic emission

  2️⃣ Electron acceleration

  3️⃣ Bremsstrahlung radiation

  4️⃣ Characteristic X-ray production
• Filtration in X-ray tubes reduces low-energy X-rays to improve image quality.
• X-rays have high penetrating power, allowing them to pass through many materials, including human tissue.


  True
• X-ray attenuation refers to the reduction in intensity of the beam.
• What are the two primary mechanisms by which X-rays interact with matter in the body during image formation?

  Absorption and scattering
• Compton scattering occurs when a photon scatters off an electron and loses some energy.


  True
• The resolution of an X-ray image depends on factors such as the size of the X-ray beam and the distance between the source and the detector
• Why are X-rays considered ionizing radiation?

  Can ionize atoms
• What happens during characteristic radiation in X-ray tubes?

  Electrons fill inner shell vacancies
• Filtration in X-ray tubes reduces low-energy X-rays to improve image quality.

  True
• The reduction in intensity of an X-ray beam as it passes through matter is called attenuation
• What type of scattering results in a photon losing some energy by deflecting off an electron?

  Compton scattering
• Denser tissues appear brighter on an X-ray image because they absorb more X-rays.


  True
• What type of X-ray imaging produces 2D images and is useful for visualizing bones and organs?

  Radiography
• Which X-ray imaging technique is used to guide minimally invasive surgical procedures?

  Fluoroscopy
• What is the primary health risk associated with ionizing radiation from X-rays?

  Cancer
• X-rays are a type of electromagnetic radiation.
• X-rays are classified as ionizing radiation.
• Tungsten is used as a target material in X-ray tubes because it produces higher energy X-rays.


  True
• What two factors can be adjusted in an X-ray tube to control the produced X-ray energy and intensity?

  High voltage and target material
• Why is X-ray radiation considered ionizing?

  It can ionize atoms
• Understanding X-ray attenuation is crucial for optimizing imaging protocols and minimizing patient radiation exposure.


  True
• In photoelectric absorption, a photon is completely absorbed by an atom, ejecting an electron
• Why do denser tissues, such as bone, appear brighter in an X-ray image?

  Absorb more X-rays
• X-rays have high penetrating power, allowing them to pass through many materials, including human tissue.


  True
• Bremsstrahlung radiation occurs when high-speed electrons are decelerated by the target material.


  True
• Which target material in an X-ray tube produces higher energy X-rays?

  Tungsten
• Why is understanding X-ray attenuation processes important in medical imaging?

  Optimizing imaging protocols
• Order the energy ranges of the key X-ray attenuation processes from lowest to highest.

  1️⃣ Photoelectric absorption (few keV to 1 MeV)

  2️⃣ Compton scattering (1 MeV to 10 MeV)

  3️⃣ Pair production (> 1.022 MeV)
• X-ray imaging is used in diagnostic imaging to visualize bones, organs, and other internal structures.