Computed Radiography
Mr Musisi Alen
Lecturer/ Medical Physicist
OBJECTIVES
• Describe several advantages of computed radiography over screenfilm
radiography.
• Identify workflow changes when computed radiography replaces screen-film
radiography.
• Discuss the relevant features of a storage phosphor imaging plate.
• Explain the operating characteristics of a computed radiography reader.
• Discuss spatial resolution, contrast resolution, and noise related to computed
radiography.
• Identify opportunities for patient radiation dose reduction with computed
radiography.
Screen Film Limitation
• To conduct a screen-film radiographic examination, one should first
produce a paper trail of the study, process the image with wet
chemistry, and finally physically file the image after accepting that it
is diagnostic.
• CR imaging eliminates some of these steps and can produce better
medical images at lower patient dose.
The Computed Radiography
Image Receptor
• Film screen and cr have similarities
• Both have an x-ray sensitive plate that is encased in a protective cassette. The
two techniques can be used interchangeably with any x-ray imaging system.
• Both produce a latent image, albeit in a different form, that must be made visible
via processing.
• In contrast, screen-film radiography, the radiographic intensifying screen is a
scintillator that emits light in response to an x-ray interaction. in CR, the
response to x-ray interaction is seen as trapped electrons in a higher energy
metastable state.
Photostimulable Luminescence
• Some materials such as barium fluorohalide with europium (BaFBr :
Eu or BaFI : Eu) emit some light promptly in the way that a
scintillator does following x-ray exposure. They also emit light some
time later when exposed to a different light source (photostimulable
luminescence (PSL)).
• The europium (Eu) is an activator and is responsible for the storage
property of the PSL. The activator is similar to the sensitivity center
of a film emulsion because without it, there would be no latent image.
Photostimulable Luminescence
• Many Compton and Photoelectric
x-ray interactions occur with outer-
shell electrons, sending them into
an excited, metastable state. when
these electrons return to the ground
state, visible light is emitted.
• Over time, these metastable
electrons return to the ground state
on their own
Photostimulable Luminescence
• This return to the ground state
can be accelerated or stimulated
by exposing the phosphor to
intense infrared light from a
laser hence the term psl from a
photostimulable phosphor
(PSP).
Imaging Plate
• The PSP screen is housed in a rugged
cassette that appears similar to a Light
spread
screen-film cassette. In this form as
an image receptor, the PSP screen-
film cassette is called an imaging
plate (IP).
Avoids light
• the PSP screen of the IP is not loaded spread
and unloaded in a darkroom. Rather,
it is handled in the manner of a
screen-fil daylight loader.
Light Stimulation Emission
• PSL behaves in the same way as TLDs and OSL dosimeters
• Light is emitted when a TLD crystal is heated. light is emitted when
an OSL crystal is illuminated.
• The sequence of events engaged in producing a PSL signal begins as
shown in following slides
Light Stimulation Emission
• When an x-ray beam exposes a PSP,
electrons are excited into a metastable
state. Approximately 50% of these
electrons return to their ground state
immediately, resulting in prompt
emission of light
• Next step is stimulation. Focused
beam of infrared light is directed at
the PSP. As laser beam intensity
increases, so does the intensity of the
emitted signal.
Light Stimulation Emission
• The laser beam causes metastable
electrons to return to the ground state
and emit a short wavelength blue
light. The latent image is made
visible.
• If residual latent image remained,
ghosting could appear on subsequent
use of the IP. Any residual latent
image is removed by flooding the
phosphor with very intense white
light from a bank of fluorescent
lamps.
Computed Radiography Reader
• A commercial CR reader, as is
shown here, could be mistaken
for a daylight film processor.
however, a daylight film
processor is based on wet
chemistry processing.
• The CR reader represents the
marriage of mechanical, optical,
and computer modules.
Mechanical Features
• When the CR cassette is inserted into the CR reader, the IP is
removed and is fitted to a precision drive mechanism. This drive
mechanism moves the IP constantly yet slowly along the long axis of
the IP. small fluctuations in velocity can result in banding artifacts, so
the motor drive must be absolutely constant.
• While the IP is being transported in the slow scan direction, a
deflection device such as an oscillating mirror deflects the laser beam
back and forth across the IP.
Optical Features
• Components of the optical subsystem
include the laser, beam-shaping optics,
light-collecting optics, optical filters, and
a photodetector.
• The laser is the source of stimulating
light. it spreads as it travels to the
rotating or oscillating reflector. This light
beam is focused onto the reflector by a
lens system
• The shape of the beam as the laser is
moving across the IP is corrected by
beam shaping optics
Optical Features
• Emitted light from the IP is channeled into a funnellike fiber optic
collection assembly and is directed at the photodetector, PMT, PD, or
charge-coupled device (CCD).
• Before photodetection occurs, the light is filtered so that none of the
long-wavelength stimulation light reaches the photodetector. In this
case, emitted light is the signal and stimulating light the noise;
therefore, proper filtering improves the signal-to-noise ratio.
Computer Control
• The output analog signal is transmitted to
a computer system that has multiple
functions
• The analog signal is processed for
amplitude, scale, and compression
• The analog signal is digitized, with
proper sampling and quantization
• The image is stored in a hard disc
temporarily until it is transferred to a
workstation for interpretation or to an
archival computer.
Image Characteristics
• The four principal characteristics of any medical image are:
• Spatial resolution,
• Contrast resolution,
• Noise,
• Artifacts.
• Such characteristics are different for all digital radiography (DR),
including CR from screen-film imaging.
Image Response Function
• The shape of the characteristic curve and
that of CR image receptor are shown
• In CR and DR, it is not really a
characteristic curve but rather an image
receptor response function.
• Screen-film response extends through an
optical density (OD) range from 0 to 3
• Screen-film image displays about 30
shades of gray. that is why radiographic
technique is so critical in screen-film
imaging.
Image Response Function
• Computed radiography imaging has an extremely wide latitude. Approximately 10,000 gray
levels, each of which can be evaluated visually by postprocessing.
• With CR, radiographic technique is not so critical because contrast does not change over 4
decades of radiation exposure
Image Noise
• The principal source of noise on a radiographic image is scatter radiation; this is
the same whether screen-film or CR image receptors are used
• CR noise sources are bothersome only at very low image receptor exposure.
Newer CR systems have lower noise levels and therefore additional patient
radiation dose reduction is possible.
Other Considerations
• Lower patient dose is possible with CR if it wasn’t for the case of
noise at reduced radiographic technique
• The transition from screen-film radiography to CR brings several
significant changes. Fewer repeat examinations should be needed
because of the wide exposure latitude. contrast resolution will be
improved, and patient radiation dose may be reduced.
