The AAPM/RSNA physics tutorial for residents - Image quality and the clinical radiographic examination

Image quality considerations in medical radiography are as diverse and complex as are the types of anatomy and pathologic conditions encountered in clinical practice. Nevertheless, certain basic concepts are central to the discussion of image quality in any radiographic examination. These concepts include the types of significant, or target, findings that are expected to occur and the anatomic background on which they are likely to appear. Physical parameters of radiographic systems, such as contrast, sharpness, and noise, act in unison in determining the final appearance of a radiograph and affect not only the portrayal of the expected pathologic condition but also that of the normal anatomy. Basic radiographic approaches in different clinical radiographic examinations can be derived from anticipated targets and backgrounds as well as from known physical determinants of image quality in radiography.