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Radiographic detail and variation of the nominal focal spot size: the "focal effect".
Katz MC, Nickoloff EL.
Department of Radiology, Columbia-Presbyterian Medical Center, New York, NY 10032.
Radiographics. 1992 Jul;12(4):753-61
It is not generally appreciated that there is a gradation of the focal spot size from the anode to cathode end of an x-ray field that can dramatically affect radiographic detail from one end of a radiograph to the other. The authors name this gradation the "focal effect." Gradations in radiation intensity and focal spot size were measured from anode end to cathode end of a 14 x 17-inch field and were visually demonstrated with lymphangiograms and line-pair patterns. The degradation in spatial resolution along the anode-cathode axis was found to be as much as 75%, depending on the orientation of the patient with respect to the x-ray tube. Radiographic detail is, therefore, significantly improved (even when the large focal spot is used) by exploiting the focal effect and placing the body part requiring the best radiographic detail at the anode end of the table.
Posted via PubMed for educational and discussion purposes only.
Link to PubMed Reference
Department of Radiology, Columbia-Presbyterian Medical Center, New York, NY 10032.
Radiographics. 1992 Jul;12(4):753-61
It is not generally appreciated that there is a gradation of the focal spot size from the anode to cathode end of an x-ray field that can dramatically affect radiographic detail from one end of a radiograph to the other. The authors name this gradation the "focal effect." Gradations in radiation intensity and focal spot size were measured from anode end to cathode end of a 14 x 17-inch field and were visually demonstrated with lymphangiograms and line-pair patterns. The degradation in spatial resolution along the anode-cathode axis was found to be as much as 75%, depending on the orientation of the patient with respect to the x-ray tube. Radiographic detail is, therefore, significantly improved (even when the large focal spot is used) by exploiting the focal effect and placing the body part requiring the best radiographic detail at the anode end of the table.
Posted via PubMed for educational and discussion purposes only.
Link to PubMed Reference
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