Practical Radiographic Imaging

This eighth edition is a major revision and update of Fuch's Radiographic Exposure and Quality Control including a title change. The book is a most expansive and comprehensive text on radiographic exposure and imaging, encompassing the vast and intricate changes that have taken place in the field. As with previous editions, the book is intended to complement radiographic physics texts rather than duplicate them, and all chapters on conventional radiography have been fully revised to reflect state-of-the-art imaging technology. Part I, Producing the Radiographic Image, presents chapters on x-rays and radiographic variables, recording the permanent image, qualities of the image, and interactions of x-rays within the patient. Part II, Visibility Factors, includes chapters on milliampere-seconds, kilovoltage-peak, machine phase and rectification, beamfiltration, field size limitation, patient status and contrast agents, pathology and casts, scattered radiation and image fog, grids, intensifying screens, and image receptor systems. Part III, Geometrical factors, discusses focal spot size, the anode bevel, source-image receptor distance, object-image receptor distance, distance ratios, beam-part-film-alignment, geometric functions of positioning, and motion. Part IV, Comprehensive Technique, presents chapters on analyzing the radiographic image, simplifying and standardizing technique, technique by proportional anatomy, technique charts, exposure controls, patient dose, quality control, and solving multiple technique problems. Part V, Special Imaging Methods, includes a concise overview of computers, the nature of digital images and the fundamental processes common to all digital imaging systems. Specific applications follow, including digital conversion of film images, DR, DF, CR, and image reconstruction in CT and MRI. The methods of Three-Dimensional Imaging are then introduced with beautiful illustration. The application of lasers in digitizing images and printing hard copies is reviewed, ending with a balanced discussion of PACS and digital teleradiology. CR and DR provides thorough coverage of the image matrix, pixel size, and fields of view, gray scale enhancement and spatial resolution, followed by an excellent discussion of CRT image qualities including horizontal and vertical resolution, contrast, dynamic range, and signal-to-noise ratio. Exposure and reading of the photostimulable phosphor plate is nicely illustrated. Clear presentations on windowing concepts, smoothing, edge enhancement, equalization, the digital workstation and display station are given. Part VI, Processing the Radiograph, completes the text with chapters on digital processing applications, practical applications for CR, automatic processors, film handling and duplication procedures, and sensitometry and darkroom quality control. Each chapter concludes with an examination that will help the student review materials and put them into perspective. Multiple choice, fill-in-the-blank, and identification/explanation questions are all included. This book is by far the best available for schools that are focused on the practical application of radiographic technique.