Factor That Affect the X-Ray Beam

Notebook #13- Revised

Laura Ramirez
December 7, 2016
RTE 141
Professor Yost

Factors that affect the x-ray beam

Affect the quantity

Affect the quality

X-ray quantity is a measure of the number of

x-ray photons in the useful beam. It is also
called x-ray output, intensity, or exposure.
The unit of measurement of x-ray quantity is
the roentgen (R).

-X-ray quality is a measurement of the

penetrating ability of the x-ray beam.
Penetrability describes the distance an x-ray
beam travels in matter.

-The factors that directly affect x-ray quantity

are the following:

-X-ray quality is numerically represented by

the half-value layer (HVL). The half-value
layer of an x-ray beam is that thickness of
absorbing material needed to reduce the x-ray
intensity (quantity) to half its original value.

-Milliamperage-second (mAs) is directly

proportional to current tube. Like mA,
exposure time is directly proportional to the
number of electrons crossing the tube and is
therefore directly proportional to the number
of x-rays created. Milliamperage-second
(mAs) is the primary controller of x-ray
quantity. mAs is the primary controller of
radiographic film density and image receptor
exposure.

-The factors that directly affect x-ray quality

are the following:

-Kilovoltage (kVp) affects the quantity of the

x-ray beam because more interactions occur
at the target as kVp increases. Research was
done to determine a practical formula to take
into account kVps effect on both x-ray
quantity and quality. This resulted in the 15
percent rule. The 15 percent rule states that an
increase in kVp by 15 percent will cause a
doubling in exposure, the same effect as
doubling the mA or doubling exposure time.

-Kilovoltage (kVp) affects the quality of the

x-ray beam because each electron has more
energy, resulting in a beam with greater
penetrability. Both the quantity and quality of
the beam will significantly changes in the
kilovoltage applied across the x-ray tube. As a
result, kVp has a tremendous impact on
radiographic density. kVp adjustments should
not be used to control density/IR exposure.

-Distance (d) the relationship of x-ray

quantity to distance is described in the inverse
square law. The inverse square law states that
the intensity of radiation at a given distance
from the point source is inversely
proportional to the square of the distance. If
the distance increases by a factor of three, the
intensity, in mR, would decrease by a factor
of 32, or nine times.

-Filtration: Affects the quality of the beam.

Filtration absorbs low energy photons (soft xrays/soft beam). Usually built into the tube
and not changed by the radiographer.
Decreases patient dose by absorbing the low
energy photons
Decreases quantity (intensity) - (fewer
photons in the beam)Increases the average
photon quality - called hardening the beam
Decreases contrast since it increased the
quality - gives more shades of gray, so
contrast has decreased - fewer differences b/w
shades of grey

-kVp does affect the quantity of x-ray bean.

More interactions occur at the target as kVp
increases, so more photons are created. The
affect is more so than mAs. Approximately
directly proportional to the square of the ratio
of the change in kVp. If kVp is doubled, the
x-ray photons increase approximately four
times. Use the 15% rule to keep density the
same if all you want to do is change contrast.

-Each electron has more energy, resulting in a

beam with greater penetrability. Doubling
kVp will increase quality (intensity) by 4. So the 15% rule comes into play so the
density will not increase and blacken the film.
We want to keep the density the same and just
increase contrast. So if increasing kVp by
15%, you'll need to decrease mAs by 1/2 to
maintain density.

-mAs controls radiation quantity, optical

density and patient dose. mAs determine the
number of x-rays in the beam and therefore
radiation quantity. X-ray quantity is directly
proportional to mAs. mAs is the primary
controller of x-ray quantity.

- mAs does not influence radiation quality.