Laura Ramirez

RTE142
02/21/2017
Professor Yost
Notebook #6
 Processing Digital Image
Digital Image -One of the major advantages in having medical images in digital form is the ability to
Processing perform a variety of processing procedures with a computer.
-These procedures can be selected and adjusted to change the characteristics of the
images, usually for the purpose of improving quality or optimizing characteristics for
maximum visibility.
-In this module we consider several of the processing methods, especially those that
apply to digital radiography.

Changing -Processing of digital images can be used to change most image characteristics.
Image -Three possibilities include processing methods to:
Characteristic
s with Reduce image noise
Processing Increase visibility of detail
Adjust and optimize the image contrast characteristics.

Some type of digital image processing is used with most of the medical imaging
modalities.
Contrast -There are several digital processing methods that can be used to adjust the contrast
Adjustment by characteristics of an image. The two methods that we will consider here are:
Digital
Processing Look Up Table (LUT) processing
Windowing

-Both of these are used in digital radiography as well as with many of the other imaging
modalities.

LUT Curve -If LUT processing is to change the contrast characteristics of an image it must
substitute numbers that are different from the original pixel values.
-Here we see that relationship shown as a curve. Note that the values and positions on
the scale for the three pixel values represented by the colors (yellow, green, and red) are
now different in the processed image.
-You might recognize the shape of this curve as being similar to that of a radiographic
film characteristic (H & D) curve. That is intentional. By processing a digital
radiograph with a LUT with this characteristic it then takes on some of the familiar
contrast "look" of a radiograph recorded on film.
Processing to -If the original image recorded with most digital radiography systems is displayed
Increase directly, it might have relatively low contrast as we see with the image on the left. This
Image is because of the wide dynamic exposure range and the linear response of the digital
Contrast radiographic receptors. This is actually a desirable characteristic because a wide range
of exposure is recorded and the digital receptor does not suppress or cutoff the contrast
in some of the exposure range as happens with images recorded directly on film.
-The usual procedure is to use processing, as illustrated here, to increase the contrast for
some selected portion of the exposure range. The processing illustrated here produces
an image that is similar to one recorded with a high contrast film. We do not generally
use a high contrast film for chest radiography because it produces an image with too
much area contrast (like the dark lungs shown here).

-In general, it simulates an image recorded on a latitude type film that is used for chest
imaging.
-Compared to the high contrast processing that we have just seen, this produces an
image with good object and anatomical structure contrast and visibility throughout most
of the image.
Digital Image -The ability to window is a valuable feature of all digital images.
Windowing -Windowing is the process of selecting some segment of the total pixel value range (the
wide dynamic range of the receptors) and then displaying the pixel values within that
segment over the full brightness (shades of gray) range from white to black.
-Important point...Contrast will be visible only for the pixel values that are within the
selected window. All pixel values that are either below or above the window will be all
white or all black and display no contrast.
-The person controlling the display can adjust both the center and the width of the
window. The combination of these two parameters determine the range of pixel values
that will be displayed with contrast in the image.
Effect of -One of the advantages of windowing is that it makes it possible to display and enhance
Changing the the contrast in selected segments of the total pixel value range. This can be compared to
Window Level the limitations of images displayed on film where the full range of exposure is displayed
in one image and cannot be changed.
-With windowing we can create many displayed images, each one "focusing on" a
specific range of pixel values.
-As we see here, when the window is set to cover the lower segment of total pixel value
range, we see good contrast in the lighter areas like the mediastinum.
-Setting the window to the higher segment produces good contrast in the darker areas
like the lungs.
Term
Spatial Resolution
Contrast Resolution
Modulation transfer
function (MTF)
Detective Quantum
Efficiency (DQE)
Signal-to-noise ratio (SNR)
Automatic Rescaling
Definition & Information
-The ability of the imaging system to demonstrate small details of
an object. Just as crystal size and thickness of the phosphor layer
determines resolution in film/ screen radiography, phosphor layer
thickness and pixel size determines resolution in photostimulable
phosphor (PSP) systems. The thinner the phosphor layer is, the
higher the resolution. In film/screen radiography, resolution at its
best is limited to approximately 10 line pairs per millimeter
(lp/mm). In digital receptors, resolution is approximately 2.55
lp/mm up to 10 lp/mm in PSP systems, resulting in less detail.
However, because of the dynamic range, or the ability to respond to
varying levels of exposure, more tissue densities on the digital
image are seen, giving the appearance of more detail. The
phosphors are turbid and needle, which is the active part of the plate
that stores information.
Turbid (granular shape)
-Barium fluorohalide bromides and iodides doped with europium.
(BaFBI:Eu and BaFI:Eu)
-europium is an activator, responsible for storage property of the
phosphor
-Turbid-cloudy
Needle (columnar shape)
-Cesium iodide (Csi)
-better X-ray absorption
-increased absorption efficiency
-less radiation than turbid phosphors
-Refers to the ability of the digital system to display subtle changes
in the shade of gray. Higher-contrast resolution means that the
differences between adjacent densities are enhanced.
-The ability of a system to record available special frequencies. The
sum of the components in a recording system cannot be greater than
the system as a whole.
-How efficiently a system converts the x-ray input signal into a
useful output image. DQE is a measurement of the percentage of
x-rays that is absorbed when they hit the detector.
-When determining the appropriate exposure techniques to use for a
particular body part, it must be decided by the radiologist and the
technologist how much noise can be tolerated in the image. As the
SNR increases, the noise decreases, but at a cost of higher exposure
to the patient.
-Means that images are produced with uniform density and contrast,
regardless of the amount of exposure. Problems occur with rescaling
when too little exposure is used, resulting in quantum mottle, or
when too much exposure is used, resulting in loss of contrast and
 loss of distinct edges because of increased scatter production.
Dose Creep -It refers to the use of automatic rescaling without regard to
appropriate exposure amount, uses too much exposure to avoid
noise. It is widely used to explain phenomenon. It refers to the use
of automatic rescaling without regard to appropriate exposure
amount.
Image Sampling -The plate is scanned and the images location is determined. The
size of the signal is then determined, and a value is placed on each
pixel.
NyquistShannon -In the field of digital signal processing, the sampling theorem is a
fundamental bridge between continuous-time signals (often called
"analog signals") and discrete-time signals (often called "digital
signals"). It establishes a sufficient condition for a sample rate that
permits a discrete sequence of samples to capture all the information
from a continuous-time signal of finite bandwidth.
Look-up Table (LUT) -A histogram of the luminance values derived during images
acquisitions. The LUT is used as a reference to evaluate the raw
information and correct the luminance values. This is a mapping
function in which all pixels (each with its own specific gray value)
are charged to a new gray value. The resultant image will have the
approriate appearance in brightness (density) and contrast. There is
an LUT for every anatomic part.
Histogram -The data within the collimated area produce a graphic
representation of the optical densities. The value of each tone is
represented (horizontal axis), as is the number of pixels in each ton
(vertical axis).