British Journal of Radiology (2004) 77, 704
© 2004 British Institute of Radiology
doi:
Radiation exposure and image quality in X-ray diagnostic radiology. Physical principles and clinical applications. By H Aichinger, J Dierker, S Joite-Barfuss and M Sabel, pp. 212 plus CD, 2004 (Springer-Verlag, Berlin, Heidelberg, New York), $99.00 ISBN 3-540-44287-1
C J Martin
This book is a data source rather than a standard text. It should provide valuable material to aid medical physicists in performing calculations relating to patients dose and image quality. The text is well written and often gives a different slant on topics to standard texts. Many useful figures are included to aid the understanding of relationships between the various quantities. The book contains a wealth of data for use in dose calculation and evaluation of image quality put together by physicists working in diagnostic X-ray equipment development and hospitals. The data are based on measurements from diagnostic X-ray tube assemblies, supplemented with results of measurements on phantoms and computer simulations.
The book consists of four parts of which the first is a brief introduction about the content. The second part on physical principles contains seven chapters. Straightforward explanations are given of X-ray production, interactions of X-ray photons with matter, radiation dosimetric quantities, the importance of scatter, the penetration of X-rays, and brief treatments of image receptors and image quality. The application to some clinical problems is considered in the third part of the book, which contains three chapters. The assessment of patient dose is discussed, with X-ray mammography being treated in some detail. Problems relating to scattered radiation are considered in the second chapter and optimization to achieve the correct balance between patient dose and image quality in the last one. The final part of the book (page 117 to the end) is a supplement containing tables of data and graphical portrayals of X-ray spectra, interaction coefficients, characteristics of X-ray beams, anti-scatter grids and detectors, and other data which might be useful in patient dose calculations. Graphs are included to show how quantities such as contrast improvement, signal to noise ratio, scatter fractions and relative dose depend on X-ray tube voltage. This is complemented by a CD-ROM containing folders with Excel data files for the user to employ in calculations and it is this that will be the most valuable component for the user.
The book and CD will be a useful addition to the library of those involved in calculations of patient dose. It is designed for the specialist and although it is well written and provides an insight into the various topics covered, it is not sufficiently comprehensive to be a standard textbook. However, those trying to understand in more depth the factors involved in optimizing imaging parameters and carrying out practical simulations of diagnostic applications will find it a useful reference
