Ebook: Diagnostic radiology physics: A handbook for teachers and students

Vienna: International Atomic Energy Agency, 2014, 682 p, ISBN–92–131010–1.
This handbook is intended to provide the basis for the education of medical physicists initiating their university studies in the field of diagnostic radiology. This has been achieved with the contributions of authors and reviewers from different countries. The chapters include a broad coverage of topics relevant to diagnostic radiology physics, including radiation physics, dosimetry and instrumentation, image quality and image perception, imaging modality specific topics, recent advances in digital techniques, and radiation biology and protection. The handbook is not designed to replace the large number of textbooks available on many aspects of diagnostic radiology physics, which will still be necessary to deepen knowledge in the specific topics reviewed here. It is expected that this handbook will successfully fill a gap in the teaching material for medical radiation physics in imaging, providing, in a single volume, the largest possible coverage available today. Its wide dissemination by the IAEA will contribute to the harmonization of education in diagnostic radiology physics and will be the source reference for much of the IAEA clinical training programmes in the field. It will be of value to those preparing for their certification as medical physicists, radiologists and diagnostic radiographers.
Fundamentals of atomic and nuclear physics.
Classification of Radiation.
Atomic and nuclear structure.
X rays.
Interactions of radiation with matter.
Interactions of photons with matter.
Photon attenuation coefficients.
Interactions of electrons with matter.
Data sources.
Fundamentals of dosimetry.
Quantities and units used for describing the interaction of ionizing radiation with matter.
Charged particle equilibrium in dosimetry.
Cavity theory.
Practical dosimetry with ion chambers.
Measures of image quality.
Image theory fundamentals.
Contrast.
Unsharpness.
Noise.
Analysis of signal and Noise.
X ray production.
Fundamentals of x ray production.
X ray tubes.
Energizing and controlling the X ray tube.
X ray tube and generator ratings.
Collimation and filtration.
Factors influencing X ray spectra and output.
Filtration.
Projection radiography.
X ray image formation.
Scattered radiation in projection radiography.
Receptors for projection radiography.
General properties of receptors.
Film and screen film systems.
Digital receptors.
Fluoroscopic imaging systems.
Fluoroscopic equipment.
Imaging performance and equipment configuration.
Adjunct imaging modes.
Application specific design.
Auxiliary topics.
DOSIMETRIC considerations in fluoroscopy.
Mammography.
Radiological requirements for mammography.
X ray equipment.
Image receptors.
Breast tomosynthesis.
Breast CT.
Computer aided diagnosis.
Stereotactic biopsy systems.
Radiation dose.
Special topics in radiography.
Dental radiography.
Mobile radiography and fluoroscopy.
DXA.
Conventional tomography and tomosynthesis.
Computed tomography.
Principles of CT.
The CT imaging system.
Image reconstruction and processing.
Acquisition.
CT image quality.
Physics of ultrasound.
Ultrasonic plane waves.
Ultrasonic properties of biological tissue.
Ultrasonic transduction.
Doppler physics.
Biological effects of ultrasound.
Ultrasound imaging.
Array system principles.
B-mode instrumentation and signal processing.
Modern imaging methods.
Colour flow imaging.
Image artefacts and quality assurance.
Physics of magnetic resonance.
NMR.
Relaxation and tissue contrast.
MR spectroscopy.
Spatial encoding and basic pulse sequences.
Magnetic resonance imaging.
Hardware.
Basic image quality issues.
MR image acquisition and reconstruction.
Artefacts.
Safety and bioeffects.
Digital imaging.
Image encoding and display.
Digital image management.
Networking.
Image compression.
Image post-processing and analysis.
Deterministic image processing and feature enhancement.
Image segmentation.
Image registration.
Open source tools for image analysis.
Image perception and assessment.
The human visual system.
Specifications of observer performance.
Experimental methodologies.
Observer models.
Quality management.
QMS requirements.
QA programme for equipment.
Example of a QC Programme.
Data management.
Radiation biology.
Radiation injury to deoxyribonucleic acid.
DNA repair.
Radiation induced chromosome damage and biological dosimetry.
The cell cycle.
Survival curve theory.
Concepts of cell death.
Cellular recovery processes.
Relative biological effectiveness.
Carcinogenesis (stochastic).
Radiation injury to tissues (deterministic).
Radiation pathology: acute and late effects.
Radiation genetics: radiation effects on fertility.
Fetal irradiation.
Instrumentation for dosimetry.
Radiation detectors and dosimeters.
Ionization chambers.
Semiconductor dosimeters.
Other dosimeters.
Dosimeter calibration.
Instruments for measuring tube voltage and time.
Instruments for occupational and public exposure measurements.
Patient dosimetry.
Application specific quantities.
Risk related quantities.
Measuring application specific quantities.
Estimating risk related quantities.
Dose management.
Justification and optimization in clinical practice.
Justification.
Optimization.
Clinical audit.
Radiation protection.
The ICRP system of radiological protection.
Implementation of radiation protection in the radiology facility.
Medical exposures.
Occupational exposure.
Public exposure in radiology practices.