Year: 2011

3 min read 7

x ray unit settings: putting it all together

Now that we’ve gone over how changing the different settings affect your final image, we will go over how to adjust the settings and produce an image of similar density.  First we’ll discuss kilovoltage peak (kVp) and then onto milliampere (mA). Kilovoltage peak (kVp) A few weeks ago we went…
1 min read 0

Case of the Week: Tonsiliths

This week is showing a case of calcifications in the tonsillar crypts also known as tonsiliths.  Tonsiliths are incidental findings on pantomographs.  Tonsiliths clinically present as  yellow-white stones in the tonsillar crypts.  They range in size from millimeters to centimeters.  A few studies have linked tonsiliths with halitosis (bad breath). …
2 min read 4

x ray unit settings: time

This last setting on the x ray unit is one that can be changed on all x rays units.  🙂  However, it is also one of the least changed settings I have come across in private offices. Newer x ray units typically have preset times for different areas of the…
1 min read 0

Case of the Week: Ossified stylohyoid ligament

This week will show a common anatomical variant – an ossified stylohyoid ligament.  This can occur unilaterally or bilaterally.  This is an incidental finding.  Many students tend to jump to Eagle’s syndrome as soon as they see an ossified stylohyoid ligament; however for Eagle’s syndrome to be considered the patient…
2 min read 2

x ray unit settings: milliampere (mA)

This week will be covering the milliampere or mA setting on an x ray unit.  Changing the mA affects the QUANTITY of x rays produced.  Some units have a fixed mA (typically in the range of 7 – 12) and some are changeable (from 5 – 15).  For those units…