For some common radiographic examinations, the EU has published
guidelines that give diagnostic requirements, criteria for radiation dose and
examples of good radiographic technique. The requirements include both image
criteria and important image details and apply to ‘standard sized’ patients with
the usual symptoms for that type of examination. The image criteria relate to
important anatomical structures that should be visible in the images. Typically, the
criteria are expressed in several degrees of visibility. For example ‘visually sharp
reproduction’ means that the details are clearly defined, whereas ‘visualization’
reflects a situation where the details are detected but not fully reproduced. The
list of important image details gives the minimum dimensions in the image at
which normal or abnormal anatomical details should be recognizable. The criteria
have been further developed over the years to be more specific to changes in the
imaging condition for use in visual grading evaluation of clinical images (