Radiography describes a wide range of imaging procedures using an X-Ray source and detector. It is the oldest form of X-Ray-based medical imaging, dating back to the earliest images in the age of Roentgen. In general, radiography procedures acquire one to several projection views of patient anatomy, which are typically reviewed without further reconstruction or post-processing. Radiography systems are available in variety of configurations, including fixed or mobile systems, systems with or without integrated detector systems, systems with or without tables, systems with or without wall stands, along with others. While a given system may have a typical imaging focus (e.g., chest X-Ray rooms), radiography systems can be used to image virtually all anatomic regions. Some radiography systems may include additional functionality (e.g., tomosynthesis, dual energy), which require additional hardware and software.

Radiography systems can be broadly characterized in several ways: fixed or mobile, and integrated or non-integrated detector. The configuration will impact both the workflow for system usage, as well as the content available for the creation of an RDSR.

The system generating the RDSR (e.g., X-Ray tube/generator or detector) varies depending on the configuration of the system and level of integration. Generally, fully integrated systems with X-Ray tube, generator, and detector all in communication with one another should be expected to produce the most complete RDSRs with technique information, exposure information, and potentially system geometry information. Non-integrated systems (e.g., independent CR plate/reader and X-Ray tube/generator) generally have no communication between one another, resulting in an RDSR that does not have the same level of information.

Regardless of the configuration and detector type, the general workflow for radiography is as follows: