Notebook

#13

Factors that affect the quantity/quality of an X-ray beam-

Quantity: measure of the number (intensity) of photons in the beam, the higher the
quantity/amount of radiation, then the greater the exposure.

Quality: measure of penetrating power of the beam.

mAs (current): the beam quantity (intensity) is directly proportional to the mA flowing
through the tube. When the mA is increased then the amount of photons produced will
increase.
mAs is the unit used to describe the product of tube current and exposure
time.
mA is the primary controller of x-ray quantity.
Quality is not affected.

kVp: is voltage and can be thought of as photon energy; as kVp is increased then so will the
energy and speed of the photons in the beam. The average photon energy is around 30-
50% of the entire x-ray emission spectrum.
The higher the energy (voltage), the higher the quality and penetrating power
of the beam.
Quantity is also increased, as there are more interactions that occur in the tube
as kVp is increased.

Distance: quantity (intensity) is decreased when distance is increased. The relationship
between quantity and distance can be described as inversely proportional to the square of
the distance (the inverse square law is applied; EX: a doubling of the distance will increase
the area of the square by 4 times).
Scatter is also increased due to divergence of the beam.
Quantity is decreased.

Filtration: beam is harder- meaning soft photons are removed. Can be inherent filtration
that is built into the tube or it can be added filtration (collimator, aluminum filter).
Increases quality (highly penetrating x-rays are able to penetrate body better
and result in a better image) and decreases patient dose and quantity.

Half Value Layer (HVL): this is the thickness of material needed to reduce the beam spread
by half; this is usually done with aluminum (generally 0.5cm thickness).