Radiography

Film records (radiographs) of internal structures of the body. Radiography is made possible by X-rays (or gamma rays) passing through the body to act on a specially sensitized film.

* * *

Examination of any part of the body for diagnostic purposes by means of x-rays with the record of the findings usually impressed upon a photographic film. SYN: roentgenography.

- advanced multiple-beam equalization r. (AMBER) a variant of scanning equalization r. using several x-ray beams.

- air-gap r. chest r. with a space (at least 10 inches) between the subject and film. Instead of using a grid, this method uses the geometry and x-ray absorption by the air to remove scattered radiation.

- bedside r. SYN: portable r..

- computed r. (CR) converting transmitted x-rays into light, using a solid-state imaging device such as a photostimulable phosphor plate, and recovering and processing the image using a digital computer; the image may then be printed on film or displayed on a computer screen.

- digital r. (DR) direct conversion of transmitted x-rays into a digital image using an array of solid-state detectors such as amorphous selenium or silicon, with computer processing and display of the image. See DSA.

- electron r. radiographic imaging in which x-radiation incident on the receptor is converted to a latent charge image and subsequently recovered by a special printing process; advantages include wider latitude of exposure and greater sensitivity than conventional film-screen combinations. See xeroradiography, phosphor plate.

- filmless r. electronic acquisition and distribution of radiographic images, eliminating the handling and storage of film. SEE ALSO: PACS.

- magnification r. r. using a microfocal x-ray tube and increased subject-film distance to provide geometric magnification of the subject without unacceptable loss of sharpness and resolution.

- mucosal relief r. radiographic technique showing fine detail of gastrointestinal mucosa after coating it with a barium suspension and distending the organ with air or gas released from an ingested powder.

- portable r. making a radiographic film of a patient confined to bed by taking a movable x-ray machine to the room. SYN: bedside r..

- scanning equalization r. an electronically enhanced method of r. in which a narrow x-ray beam is scanned over the patient while its attenuation is measured, providing feedback to modulate beam intensity in order to equalize regional x-ray film exposure.

- sectional r. SYN: tomography.

- serial r. making several x-ray exposures of a single region over a period of time, as in angiography.

- spot-film r. an x-ray of a localized region, usually under study by fluoroscopy.

* * *

ra·di·og·ra·phy .rā-dē-'äg-rə-fē n, pl -phies the art, act, or process of making radiographs and sonograms

* * *

n.

diagnostic radiology: traditionally, the technique of examining the body by directing X-rays through it to produce images (radiographs) on photographic film or a fluoroscope. Increasingly radiography includes the production of images by computerized tomography and nuclear medicine. It is used to produce images of disease in all parts of the body, to be interpreted by radiologists for physicians and surgeons. It is also widely used in dentistry for detecting dental caries, periodontal disease, periapical disease, the presence and position of unerupted teeth, and disease of the jaws. See also radiographer, radiology.

* * *

ra·di·og·ra·phy (ra″de-ogґrə-fe) [radio- + -graphy] the making of film records (radiographs) of internal structures of the body by passage of x-rays or gamma rays through the body to act on specially sensitized film. Formerly called roentgenography. radiographic adj