Diagnostic Radiology Physics

This publication is aimed at students and teachers involved in programmes that train medical physicists for work in diagnostic radiology. It provides a comprehensive overview of the basic medical physics knowledge required in the form of a syllabus for the practice of modern diagnostic radiology. This makes it particularly useful for graduate students and residents in medical physics programmes. The material presented in the publication has been endorsed by the major international organizations and is the foundation for academic and clinical courses in both diagnostic radiology physics and in emerging areas such as imaging in radiotherapy.

Physics for Diagnostic Radiology, Second Edition is a complete course for radiologists studying for the FRCR part one exam and for physicists and radiographers on specialized graduate courses in diagnostic radiology. It follows the guidelines issued by the European Association of Radiology for training. A comprehensive, compact primer, its analytical approach deals in a logical order with the wide range of imaging techniques available and explains how to use imaging equipment. It includes the background physics necessary to understand the production of digitized images, nuclear medicine, and magnetic resonance imaging.

The Fourth Edition of this text provides a clear understanding of the physics principles essential to getting maximum diagnostic value from the full range of current and emerging imaging technologies. Updated material added in areas such as x-ray generators (solid-state devices), xerography (liquid toner), CT scanners (fast-imaging technology) and ultrasound (color Doppler).

Imaging modalities in radiology produce ever-increasing amounts of data which need to be displayed, optimized, analyzed and archived: a "big data" as well as an "image processing" problem. Computer programming skills are rarely emphasized during the education and training of medical physicists, meaning that many individuals enter the workplace without the ability to efficiently solve many real-world clinical problems. This book provides a foundation for the teaching and learning of programming for medical physicists and other professions in the field of Radiology and offers valuable content for novices and more experienced readers alike. It focuses on providing readers with practical skills on how to implement MATLAB® as an everyday tool, rather than on solving academic and abstract physics problems. Further, it recognizes that MATLAB is only one tool in a medical physicist’s toolkit and shows how it can be used as the "glue" to integrate other software and processes together. Yet, with great power comes great responsibility. The pitfalls to deploying your own software in a clinical environment are also clearly explained. This book is an ideal companion for all medical physicists and medical professionals looking to learn how to utilize MATLAB in their work. Features Encompasses a wide range of medical physics applications in diagnostic and interventional radiology Advances the skill of the reader by taking them through real-world practical examples and solutions with access to an online resource of example code The diverse examples of varying difficulty make the book suitable for readers from a variety of backgrounds and with different levels of programming experience.

Over recent years there has been a vast expansion in the variety of imaging techniques available, and developments in machine specifications continue apace. If radiologists and radiographers are to obtain optimal image quality while minimising exposure times, a good understanding of the fundamentals of the radiological science underpinning diagnostic imaging is essential. The second edition of this well-received textbook continues to cover all technical aspects of diagnostic radiology, and remains an ideal companion during examination preparation and beyond. The content includes a review of basic science aspects of imaging, followed by a detailed explanation of radiological sciences, conventional x-ray image formation and other imaging techniques. The enormous technical advances in computed tomography, including multislice acquisition and 3D image reconstruction, digital imaging in the form of image plate and direct radiography, magnetic resonance imaging, colour flow imaging in ultrasound and positron radiopharmaceuticals in nuclear medicine, are all considered here. A chapter devoted to computers in radiology considers advances in radiology information systems and computer applications in image storage and communication systems. The text concludes with a series of general topics relating to diagnostic imaging. The content has been revised and updated throughout to ensure it remains in line with the Fellowship of the Royal College of Radiologists (FRCR) examination, while European and American perspectives on technology, guidelines and regulations ensure international relevance.

This book summarizes basic knowledge of atomic, nuclear, and radiation physics that professionals need for efficient and safe use of ionizing radiation. Concentrating on the underlying principles of radiation physics, it covers prerequisite knowledge for medical physics courses on the graduate and post-graduate levels, providing the link between elementary physics on the one hand and the intricacies of the medical physics specialties on the other.

This renowned work is derived from the authors' acclaimed national review course (“Physics of Medical Imaging") at the University of California-Davis for radiology residents. The text is a guide to the fundamental principles of medical imaging physics, radiation protection and radiation biology, with complex topics presented in the clear and concise manner and style for which these authors are known. Coverage includes the production, characteristics and interactions of ionizing radiation used in medical imaging and the imaging modalities in which they are used, including radiography, mammography, fluoroscopy, computed tomography and nuclear medicine. Special attention is paid to optimizing patient dose in each of these modalities. Sections of the book address topics common to all forms of diagnostic imaging, including image quality and medical informatics as well as the non-ionizing medical imaging modalities of MRI and ultrasound. The basic science important to nuclear imaging, including the nature and production of radioactivity, internal dosimetry and radiation detection and measurement, are presented clearly and concisely. Current concepts in the fields of radiation biology and radiation protection relevant to medical imaging, and a number of helpful appendices complete this comprehensive textbook. The text is enhanced by numerous full color charts, tables, images and superb illustrations that reinforce central concepts. The book is ideal for medical imaging professionals, and teachers and students in medical physics and biomedical engineering. Radiology residents will find this text especially useful in bolstering their understanding of imaging physics and related topics prior to board exams.

This second edition has been fully updated to provide radiologists with all the recent technological advances in diagnostic radiology. Divided into six sections, it covers all the key aspects of the imaging – ultrasound, computed tomography, magnetic resonance imaging, radiography and interventional radiography, and contrast media. The final section discusses miscellaneous topics including evidence based radiology, radiation protection, molecular imaging, planning a modern imaging department, and common drugs used. A separate chapter is dedicated to picture archiving and data management. This comprehensive new edition includes nearly 600 full colour radiological images and illustrations. Key points Fully updated, new edition presenting recent technological advances in diagnostic radiology Covers all key imaging techniques Includes nearly 600 radiological photographs and illustrations Previous edition published in 2007