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Artefacts in Roentgen Films

Artefacts in Roentgen Films Artefacts in Roentgen Films George C. Henny , M.D. Department of Roentgenology, Temple University School of Medicine Philadelphia Excerpt AN artefact in a roentgen film is a marking produced by an agent other than the x-ray through the part being radiographed. An artefact may be of any size or shape and may be either negative or positive in phase (may be exhibited as an area of film lighter than its surroundings—the negative phase—or darker than its surroundings—the positive phase). Every roentgenologist occasionally sees artefacts in his films: they appear even in the most carefully controlled laboratories. Sometimes the cause is easily traced but at other times it is very puzzling. The roentgenologist is apt first to think that the artefacts were produced in the manufacture of the films and may even change his brand of films on that account. However, experience has shown that artefacts produced in the manufacture of present-day films are rare. A review of the causes of artefacts in roentgen films will aid the roentgenologist to trace his difficulty in any particular case. It must be kept in mind that the emulsion of the roentgen film is a very sensitive substance, easily affected by light, stray x-or gamma rays, by mechanical manipulation, by gases and vapors (such as illuminating gas, hydrogen sulphide, ammonia, formalin vapor), and by other chemicals and by excessive moisture and heat (Fig. 1). The storage room for films should be free from all of these. The most usual causes of artefacts are listed below. I.—Stray Radiation Variable marks on the film may be produced by stray radiation from a fluoro-scope. In one instance, a fluoroscope twenty feet away from the radiographic room produced a series of parallel lines (multiple exposures of a metal bar as the fluoroscopic tube was moved) on the finished film. The fact that a fluoroscope can produce such marks is well recognized, but that it can do it at such distances may be overlooked. Any leakage from the x-ray therapy room must also be ruled out. This is best done by trial exposures, for even though the tube is “auto-protected,” conditions may be such that stray radiation is reaching the radiographic or loading room. If there are a number of radiographic rooms and a film is being carried from one of these to the dark room while an exposure is being made in another, stray radiation may strike the film being carried. Exposed and unexposed films must, of course, be adequately protected in the radiographic room. In one instance, nails which held down the lead covering of the cassette storage box had worked loose and came out. The lead was bent down somewhat, and when x-rays from the radiographic table fell on the box, there was enough leakage to produce an irregular blackening of the films with three black marks corresponding to the nail holes (Fig. 2). Radiation from radium or radon needles can produce marks on the films, but this is not apt to occur. copyrighted by the Radiological Society of North America, Inc. http://www.deepdyve.com/assets/images/DeepDyve-Logo-lg.png Radiology Radiological Society of North America, Inc.

Artefacts in Roentgen Films

Henny, George C.
Radiology , Volume 24 (3): 350 – Mar 1, 1935
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Publisher
Radiological Society of North America, Inc.
Copyright
Copyright © 1935 by Radiological Society of North America
ISSN
1527-1315
eISSN
0033-8419
DOI
10.1148/24.3.350
Publisher site
See Article on Publisher Site

Abstract

Artefacts in Roentgen Films George C. Henny , M.D. Department of Roentgenology, Temple University School of Medicine Philadelphia Excerpt AN artefact in a roentgen film is a marking produced by an agent other than the x-ray through the part being radiographed. An artefact may be of any size or shape and may be either negative or positive in phase (may be exhibited as an area of film lighter than its surroundings—the negative phase—or darker than its surroundings—the positive phase). Every roentgenologist occasionally sees artefacts in his films: they appear even in the most carefully controlled laboratories. Sometimes the cause is easily traced but at other times it is very puzzling. The roentgenologist is apt first to think that the artefacts were produced in the manufacture of the films and may even change his brand of films on that account. However, experience has shown that artefacts produced in the manufacture of present-day films are rare. A review of the causes of artefacts in roentgen films will aid the roentgenologist to trace his difficulty in any particular case. It must be kept in mind that the emulsion of the roentgen film is a very sensitive substance, easily affected by light, stray x-or gamma rays, by mechanical manipulation, by gases and vapors (such as illuminating gas, hydrogen sulphide, ammonia, formalin vapor), and by other chemicals and by excessive moisture and heat (Fig. 1). The storage room for films should be free from all of these. The most usual causes of artefacts are listed below. I.—Stray Radiation Variable marks on the film may be produced by stray radiation from a fluoro-scope. In one instance, a fluoroscope twenty feet away from the radiographic room produced a series of parallel lines (multiple exposures of a metal bar as the fluoroscopic tube was moved) on the finished film. The fact that a fluoroscope can produce such marks is well recognized, but that it can do it at such distances may be overlooked. Any leakage from the x-ray therapy room must also be ruled out. This is best done by trial exposures, for even though the tube is “auto-protected,” conditions may be such that stray radiation is reaching the radiographic or loading room. If there are a number of radiographic rooms and a film is being carried from one of these to the dark room while an exposure is being made in another, stray radiation may strike the film being carried. Exposed and unexposed films must, of course, be adequately protected in the radiographic room. In one instance, nails which held down the lead covering of the cassette storage box had worked loose and came out. The lead was bent down somewhat, and when x-rays from the radiographic table fell on the box, there was enough leakage to produce an irregular blackening of the films with three black marks corresponding to the nail holes (Fig. 2). Radiation from radium or radon needles can produce marks on the films, but this is not apt to occur. copyrighted by the Radiological Society of North America, Inc.

Journal

Radiology – Radiological Society of North America, Inc.

Published: Mar 1, 1935

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