Medical Imaging Flashcards

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1
Q

How an x-ray tube works

A

Electrons are emitted by the hot filament cathode, which is heated by a current. The electrons are directed at a tungsten anode and are accelerated across the p.d. and smash into it. When they collide, some of the electrons kinetic energy is converted into x rays.

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2
Q

Maximum energy of an emitted x ray

A

W=QV

Energy is equal to the charge of an electron * the p.d. of the x ray tube

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3
Q

The other way that x rays appear in an x ray tube

A

An x ray knocks a low energy electron out of the atom and a high energy electron will then take its place and emit its lost energy as an x ray

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4
Q

Intensity of an x ray beam

A

Power per unit area

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5
Q

X ray attenuation

A

When x rays pass through matter they are absorbed and scattered

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6
Q

How are X rays attenuated (3)

A

Photoelectric effect - Photon absorbed by electron which is ejected and gap is filled by another electron which emits a photon
Compton scattering - A photon knocks an electron out of an atom which causes the photon to lose energy and be scattered
Pair production - High energy photon decays into an electron-positron pair

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7
Q

How to distinguish materials with similar attenuation coefficients using x rays

A

Artificial contrast media with high attenuation coefficients are used (often swallowed)

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8
Q

Examples of artificial contrast media (2)

A
  • Barium

- Iodine

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9
Q

How a CAT scan works

A

A x ray tube creates a fan shaped tube. This is then rotated around a patient and will therefore read a thin ‘slice’. The x-rays are detected by a ring of detectors and visualised with computer software

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10
Q

Advantage of CAT scan over normal x-rays

A

It provides a much more accurate picture and can be used to build up a 3d image from which a doctor can observe and remove certain densities. They are also more sensitive to changes in density

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11
Q

Collimated

A

When waves are made to be parallel

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12
Q

Medical tracer

A

A radioactive substance that is injected/ingested into the patient

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13
Q

Examples of medical tracers (2)

A
  • Technetium-99m (Tc-99m)

- Fluorine-18

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14
Q

How a gamma camera works

A

Gamma rays emitted by the tracer pass through the collimater, which is made of lead and stops photons that have been scattered from being detected. The photons then hit the scintillator, which is a large crystal of sodium iodide. This flashes whenever a photon hits it (it emits many photons of visible light). This visible light is then incident on an array of photomultiplier tubes which emit an electron for every photon via the photoelectric effect. These electrons cause a current which can be detected and stored and viewed on a computer

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15
Q

Use of x rays vs medical tracers

A

x rays show the structure of organs whereas tracers show the function of organs

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16
Q

How a PET scan works

A

A beta-plus tracer is injected into the body and allowed to move through it. The emitted positrons annihilate with electrons in the body and emit high frequency gamma radiation. This is then detected with a gamma camera. Detected photons are only counted if another photon is detected in the opposite direction at the same time

17
Q

Diagnosis using a PET scan

A

The medical tracer can be bound to, for instance, sugar. This will then build up in cells that are more active, such as cancer cells, and therefore these will appear brighter on the picture

18
Q

Ultrasound

A

Longitudinal wave with frequency > 20kHz

19
Q

How piezoelectric crystals work

A

They deform when a p.d. is put across them and they created a p.d. when they are deformed.

20
Q

How ultrasound is emitted and received

A

An alternating current is run through piezoelectric crystals causing them to extend and compress in quick succession, creating an ultrasound wave. This wave is then detected by other piezoelectric crystals which produce a p.d. when the ultrasound hits them. They do this because the ultrasound causes them to resonate.

21
Q

Thickness of the piezoelectric crystal

A

Half the wavelength of the ultrasound

22
Q

Ultrasound transducer

A

Device that emits and absorbs ultrasound

23
Q

Advantages of ultrasound (4)

A
  • No hazards
  • Can obtain real time images
  • Cheap and portable
  • Quick
24
Q

Disadvantages of ultrasound (3)

A
  • Doesn’t penetrate bone
  • Cannot pass through air spaces (e.g. lungs)
  • Can’t give detail on solid masses
25
Q

Impedance matching and an example of it

A

The use of a coupling medium between the transducer and the body so that less ultrasound is reflected back. Example is gel used.

26
Q

A scan

A

A short pulse of ultrasound is sent into the body and the returning intensity is plotted against time on a CRO screen

27
Q

B scan

A

The reflected intensity maps to brightness in an image and a linear array of transducers can be used to build up a 2d image

28
Q

Acoustic impedance of a medium

A

Z = pc
where
p is density
c is the speed of sound in the material

29
Q

Reflection of ultrasound at a boundary

A

A function of the acoustic impedances given in formula book

30
Q

How you can measure the speed of blood flow using ultrasound

A

Using the doppler effect and given equation