The Essential Physics of Medical Imaging

by Jerrold T. Bushberg PhD, J. Anthony Seibert PhD, Edwin M. Leidholdt, Jr. PhD, John M. Boone PhD

Overview

Selected as a Doody’s Essential Title for 2025​!


Widely regarded as the cornerstone text in the field, the successful series of editions continues to follow the tradition of a clear and comprehensive presentation of the physical principles and operational aspects of medical imaging.  The Essential Physics of Medical Imaging, 4th Edition, is a coherent and thorough compendium of the fundamental principles of the physics, radiation protection, and radiation biology that underlie the practice and profession of medical imaging. Distinguished scientists and educators from the University of California, Davis, provide up-to-date, readable information on the production, characteristics, and interactions of non-ionizing and ionizing radiation, magnetic fields and ultrasound used in medical imaging and the imaging modalities in which they are used, including radiography, mammography, fluoroscopy, computed tomography, magnetic resonance, ultrasound, and nuclear medicine. This vibrant, full-color text is enhanced by more than 1,000 images, charts, and graphs, including hundreds of new illustrations. This text is a must-have resource for medical imaging professionals, radiology residents who are preparing for Core Exams, and teachers and students in medical physics and biomedical engineering.   

Product Details

ISBN-13:	9781975103224
Publisher:	LWW
Publication date:	11/12/2020
Edition description:	Fourth, North American Edition
Pages:	1030
Product dimensions:	7.00(w) x 10.00(h) x (d)

Table of Contents

Preface to the Third Edition
Foreword
Acknowledgements

Section I: Basic Concepts
1 Introduction to Medical Imaging
1.1 The Modalities
1.2 Image Properties

2 Radiation and the Atom
2.1 Radiation
2.2 Structure of the Atom

3 Interaction of Radiation with Matter
3.1 Particle Interactions
3.2 X-ray and Gamma-Ray Interactions
3.3 Attenuation of x-rays and Gamma Rays
3.4 Absorption of Energy from X-rays and Gamma Rays
3.5 Imparted Energy, Equivalent Dose, and Effective Dose

4 Image Quality
4.1 Spatial Resolution
4.2 Convolution
4.3 Physical Mechanisms of Blurring
4.4 The Frequency Domain
4.5 Contrast Resolution
4.6 Noise Texture: The Noise Power Spectrum
4.7 Contrast
4.8 Contrast-to-Noise Ratio
4.9 Signal-to-Noise Ratio
4.10 Contrast-Detail Diagrams
4.11 Detective Quantum Efficiency
4.12 Receiver Operating Characteristic Curves

5 Medical Imaging Informatics
5.1 Analog and Digital Representation of Data
5.2 Digital Radiological Images
5.3 Digital Computers
5.4 Information Storage Devices
5.5 Display of Digital Images
5.6 Computer Networks
5.7 PACS and Teleradiology
5.8 Image Processing
5.9 Security, Including Availablility

Section II: Diagnostic Radiology
6 x-ray Production, X-ray Tubes, and x-ray Generators
6.1 Production of x-rays
6.2 x-ray Tubes
6.3 x-ray Generators
6.4 Power Ratings and Heat Loading and Cooling
6.5 Factors Affecting x-ray Emission

7 Radiography
7.1 Geometry of Projection Radiography
7.2 Screen-Film Radiography
7.3 Computed Radiography
7.4 Charge-Coupled Device and Complementary Metal-Oxide Semiconductor detectors
7.5 Flat Panel Thin-Film-Transistor Array Detectors
7.6 Technique Factors in Radiography
7.7 Scintillators and Intensifying Screens
7.8 Absorption Efficiency and Conversion Efficiency
7.9 Other Considerations
7.10 Radiographic Detectors, Patient Dose, and Exposure Index
7.11 Dual-Energy Radiography
7.12 Scattered Radiation in Projection Radiographic Imaging
8 Mammography
8.1 x-ray Tube and Beam Filtration
8.2 x-ray Generator and Phototimer System
8.3 Compression, Scattered Radiation, and Magnification
8.4 Screen-Film Cassettes and Film Processing
8.5 Digital Mammography
8.6 Radiation Dosimetry
8.7 Regulatory Requirements

9 Fluoroscopy
9.1 Functionality
9.2 Fluoroscopic Imaging Chain Components
9.3 Fluoroscopic Detector Systems
9.4 Automatic Exposure Rate Control
9.5 Fluoroscopy Modes of Operation
9.6 Image Quality in Fluoroscopy
9.7 Fluoroscopy Suites
9.8 Radiation Dose

10 Computed Tomography
10.1 Clinical Use
10.2 CT System Designs
10.3 Modes of CT Acquisition
10.4 CT Reconstruction
10.5 Image Quality in CT
10.6 CT Image Artifacts
10.7 CT Generations

11 X-ray Dosimetry in Projection Imaging and Computed Tomography
11.1 Attenuation of X-rays in Tissue
11.2 Dose-Related Metrics in Radiography and Fluoroscopy
11.3 Monte Carlo Dose Computation
11.4 Equivalent Dose
11.5 Organ Doses from X-ray Procedures
11.6 Effective Dose
11.7 Absorbed Dose in Radiography and Fluoroscopy
11.8 CT Dosimetry and Organ Doses
11.9 Computation of Radiation Risk to the Generic Patient
11.10 Computation of Patient-Specific Radiation Risk Estimates
11.11 Diagnostic Reference Levels
11.12 Increasing Radiation Burden from Medical Imaging
11.13 Summary: Dose Estimation in Patients

12 Magnetic Resonance Basics: Magnetic Fields, Nuclear Magnetic Characteristics, Tissue Contrast, Image Acquisition
12.1 Magnetism, Magnetic Fields, and Magnets
12.2 The Magnetic Resonance Signal
12.3 Magnetization Properties of Tissues
12.4 Basic Acquisition Parameters
12.5 Basic Pulse Sequences
12.6 MR Signal Localization
12.7 “K-Space” Data Acquisition and Image Reconstruction
12.8 Summary

13 Magnetic Resonance Imaging: Advanced Image Acquisition Methods, Artifacts, Spectroscopy, Quality Control, Siting, Bioeffects, and Safety
13.1 Image Acquisition Time
13.2 MR Image Characteristics
13.3 Signal from Flow
13.3 Perfusion and Diffusion Contrast Imaging
13.4 Magnetization Transfer Contrast
13.5 MR Artifacts
13.6 Magnetic Resonance Spectroscopy
13.7 Ancillary Components
13.8 Magnet Siting, Quality Control
13.9 MR Bioeffects and Safety
13.10 Summary

14 Ultrasound
14.1 Characteristics of Sound
14.2 Interactions of Ultrasound with Matter
14.3 Ultrasound Transducers
14.4 Ultrasound Beam Properties
14.5 Image Data Acquisition
14.6 Two-Dimensional Image Display and Storage
14.7 Doppler Ultrasound
14.8 Miscellaneous Ultrasound Capabilities
14.9 Ultrasound Image Quality and Artifacts
14.10 Ultrasound System Performance and Quality Assurance
14.11 Acoustic Power and Bioeffects
14.12 Summary

Section III: Nuclear Medicine
15 Radioactivity and Nuclear Transformation
15.1 Radionuclide Decay Terms and Relationships
15.2 Nuclear Transformation
16 Radionuclide Production, Radiopharmaceuticals, and Internal Dosimetry
16.1 Radionuclide Production
16.2 Radiopharmaceuticals
16.3 Internal Dosimetry
16.4 Regulatory Issues

17 Radiation Detection and Measurement
17.1 Types of Detectors and Basic Principles
17.2 Gas-Filled Detectors
17.3 Scintillation Detectors
17.4 Semiconductor Detectors
17.5 Pulse Height Spectroscopy
17.6 Nonimaging Detector Applications
17.7 Counting Statistics

18 Nuclear Imaging—The Scintillation Camera
18.1 Planar Nuclear Imaging: The Anger Scintillation Camera
18.2 Computers in Nuclear Imaging

19 Nuclear Imaging—Emission Tomography
19.1 Focal Plane Tomography in Nuclear Medicine
19.2 Single Photon Emission Computed Tomography
19.3 Positron Emission Tomography
19.4 Dual Modality Imaging—SPECT/CT, PET/CT, and PET/MRI
19.5 Clinical Aspects, Comparison of PET and SPECT, and Dose

Section IV: Radiation Biology and Protection
20 Radiation Biology
20.1 Overview
20.2 Interaction of Radiation with Tissue
20.3 Molecular and Cellular Response to Radiation
20.4 Organ System Response to Radiation
20.5 Whole Body Response to Radiation: The Acute Radiation Syndrome
20.6 Radiation-Induced Carcinogenesis
20.7 Hereditary Effects of Radiation Exposure
20.8 Radiation Effects In Utero

21 Radiation Protection
21.1 Sources of Exposure to Ionizing Radiation
21.2 Personnel Dosimetry
21.3 Radiation Detection Equipment in Radiation Safety
21.4 Fundamental Principles and Methods of Exposure Control
21.5 Structural Shielding of Imaging Facilities
21.6 Radiation Protection in Diagnostic and Interventional X-ray Imaging
21.7 Radiation Protection in Nuclear Medicine
21.8 Regulatory Agencies and Radiation Exposure Limits
21.9 Prevention of Errors
21.10 Management of Radiation Safety Programs
21.11 Imaging of Pregnant and Potentially Pregnant Patients
21.12 Medical Emergencies Involving Ionizing Radiation

Section V: Appendices
A Fundamental Principles of Physics
B Digital Computers
E Effective Doses, C Physical Constants, Prefixes, Geometry, Conversion Factors, and Radiologic Data
D Mass Attenuation Coefficients
Organ Doses, and Fetal Doses from Medical Imaging Procedures
F Radiopharmaceutical Characteristics and Dosimetry
G Convolution and Fourier Transforms
H Radiation Dose: Perspectives and Comparisons
I Radionuclide Therapy Home Care Guidelines

Index

Editorial Reviews

This is a basic medical imaging physics textbook with a higher than average level of technical description commonly found in this category of books. It is intended to be an aid to those taking the American Board of Radiology Certification Examinations. Although it is intended for radiology residents taking the board examinations, it is quite suitable for graduate students enrolled in graduate medical physics programs. Some of the technical details are more suitable for students in medical physics than for diagnostic radiology residents, and for this reason, it is not designed for general practitioners. There are an ample number of figures to depict basic physical interactions, imaging processes, and operation logic of various imaging equipment. It is a delight to read if you are interested in the details of imaging systems at the same time you want to understand the basic physics to help you pass the board examination. Graduate students in medical physics should be glad to find out that there is a textbook that covers the physics of (most if not all of) the imaging systems that are available on the market today. Summary tables are strategically placed when often confusing yet related technical terms are necessary to describe the inner works of physical concepts. Figures, tables, and photographs are all up-to-date and clearly explained to assist the readers. The authors have pitched in their individual talents in trying to convey the basic principles of medical imaging. It is a ""must have"" on your own radiology bookshelf.

Pei-Jan Paul Lin

Reviewer: Mahadevappa Mahesh, MS, PhD (Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine)
Description: This is an update of various medical imaging physics topics, including the technological advances that have occurred in past decade since the previous edition was published in 2002. The book is divided into four sections covering basic concepts, diagnostic radiology, nuclear medicine, and radiation biology and protection and includes a well-developed appendix section and more than 750 colorful illustrations
Purpose: The authors meet the objectives of providing a one-stop resource on medical imaging physics that successfully addresses many of the changes that have occurred in the past 10 years, particularly the advances in computed tomography (multidetector CT), digital radiography, magnetic resonance imaging (MRI), and informatics. To keep it relevant, they have shortened or deleted some sections (film-screen systems, conventional mammography, etc.) and expanded others (radiation dose, informatics, etc.).
Audience: The primary audience includes radiologists in training and graduate students pursing medical imaging studies. The book would also appeal to a larger audience of medical physicists, scientists, physicians, and graduate students.
Features: The first section touches on the basic concepts of medical imaging and includes an introduction to medical imaging, basic concepts of radiation, and the interaction of radiation with matter and image quality. It also includes an expanded chapter on image informatics. The middle two sections on diagnostic radiology and nuclear medicine comprise the main body of the book. The 14 chapters in these sections delve into thorough, detailed discussions of different imaging modalities including radiography, mammography, fluoroscopy, computed tomography, MRI, ultrasound, medical x-ray dosimetry, and nuclear medicine. The final section on radiation biology and radiation protection includes an expanded discussion on radiation dose, which has garnered attention in the public arena, providing perspectives on radiation dose and risks and the overall benefits of medical imaging.
Assessment: The attractive part of this well-written book is its clarity and detail, which will appeal to anyone interested in pursuing medical imaging. The authors are well-known medical physicists who have been teaching the subject to radiology residents for more than 20 years. I highly recommend this book to radiologists in training and to graduate students pursuing medical physics. The color illustrations are an added bonus for teaching programs.

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