Notebook 2

Grid Errors Occurrence Grid in which it Effect seen Grid ratio

occurs
Off-Level Tube angled across Parallel, focused, Absorption of
the long axis of grid linear (one primary radiation
strips due to direction), criss- resulting in
improper tube or cross (both decrease in
grid positioning directions) exposure of image
Off-Center When x-ray tube Focused Grid cut-off,
not be centered decreased
along central axis of exposure
focus grid
Off-Focus When the focal Peripheral cut-off Prefer higher grid
range on grid is not ratios for greater
used for procedure positioning
accuracy
Upside-Down -Identified tube side Focused Peripheral cut-off
is not properly
placed right side up
-radiation pass
through grid along
central axis and
radiation absorbed
away from center

Left to right: off-level, off-center, off-focus, upside-down

Grid ratio- ratio of height of lead strips to distance between the

strips

6
-h/d; h=height, d=interspace width

-higher grid ratio=more lead=improved contrast (clean-up)

-the higher the grid ratio the straighter the scatter photon has to be in order to pass through interspace
material=less scatter

-grids may also be rated by their weight expressed, (g/cm2)

Grid frequency- number of grid lines/inch or centimeter

-60-200 lines/inch

-more commonly 85-103 lines/inch

-higher frequency = thinner lead strips

-high frequencies used for digital IR for minimal vision of grid lines (178-200 lines/inch)

-combining information about grid ratio and frequency you can determine total quantity of lead in grid

-lead content measured in mass/unit area

Grid Conversion/Selection

-Choosing a grid a complex process. The following are formulas to help decipher the amount of exposure
needed for a given grid.

-GCF or grid conversion factor= mAs with grid/mAs without grid

Example:

A satisfactory chest radiograph is produced using 5mAs at 85 kVp without a grid. A second
image is requested using a 12:1 grid. What mAs is needed to produce a second satisfactory image?
(given 5.5)

-15.5=X/5 mAs

-X=5.5 X 5mAs

-X=27.5mAs

-Converting from one grid ratio to another= mAs1/mAs2=GCF1/GCF2

Example:

7
 A satisfactory abdominal image is produced using an 8:1 grid, 35 mAs, and 85 kVp. A second
image is requested using a 12:1 grid. Calculate what mAs is needed to produce a second satisfactory
image. (given 5.5)

-35/X=4/5.5

-4X=192.5

-X=48mAs

Selectivity

-when grid absorb greater percentage of scatter than primary radiation have a greater degree of
selectivity.

-Formula for selectivity= % primary radiation transmitted/%scatter radiation transmitted

-the better at removing the scatter, the higher the selectivity

Contrast Improvement Ability

-K factor is the measure of how well the ability to improve contrast

-dependent on amount of scatter produced, controlled by kVp.

-Formula for K factor= radiographic contrast with grid/radiographic contrast without grid

Air Gap Technique

-alternative to grid use

-patient at greater OID between patient and image receptor (air gap). This will decrease the amount of
scatter reaching image receptor

-a 10in. air gap on a 10 cm body part has same clean up as a 15:1 grid ratio