Image Quality and QA Lecture

A set of flashcards summarizing key concepts from the Image Quality and QA lecture, focusing on essential terms, definitions, and processes relevant to X-ray imaging.

mAs

Milliampere-Second; the combination of mA and scan time used in x-ray imaging that influences image quality.

kVp

Kilovolt Peak; determines the average energy of the x-ray beam and is crucial for penetration power.

Spatial Resolution

The ability to detect two small objects as separate from one another, measured in line pairs per centimeter (lp/cm).

Temporal Resolution

The speed at which data is acquired in imaging; important for minimizing motion effects during image capture.

Direct Measurement of Spatial Resolution

Uses a line pairs phantom to measure spatial resolution by counting the number of visible line pairs.

Artifacts

Errors in imaging that can arise from various sources, such as motion, beam hardening, or errors in detector calibration.

Uncoupling Effect

In CT and digital radiography, overexposure does not always correlate to a dark image, unlike traditional film radiography.

Sampling Theorem

To accurately see an object, the pixel dimension should be half the size of the object itself.

Contrast Resolution

The ability to distinguish between two objects of similar densities, critical for detecting subtle differences in tissues.

Partial Volume Artifact

An artifact that occurs when an object is only partially positioned within a voxel, leading to hazy and unsharp edges.