{"countries":[{"id":4,"name":"Afghanistan","region_id":1},{"id":17,"name":"Åland Islands","region_id":1},{"id":7,"name":"Albania","region_id":1},{"id":64,"name":"Algeria","region_id":1},{"id":13,"name":"American Samoa","region_id":3},{"id":2,"name":"Andorra","region_id":1},{"id":10,"name":"Angola","region_id":1},{"id":6,"name":"Anguilla","region_id":1},{"id":11,"name":"Antarctica","region_id":1},{"id":5,"name":"Antigua and Barbuda","region_id":1},{"id":12,"name":"Argentina","region_id":1},{"id":8,"name":"Armenia","region_id":1},{"id":16,"name":"Aruba","region_id":1},{"id":15,"name":"Australia","region_id":2},{"id":14,"name":"Austria","region_id":1},{"id":18,"name":"Azerbaijan","region_id":1},{"id":34,"name":"Bahamas","region_id":1},{"id":25,"name":"Bahrain","region_id":1},{"id":21,"name":"Bangladesh","region_id":1},{"id":20,"name":"Barbados","region_id":1},{"id":38,"name":"Belarus","region_id":1},{"id":22,"name":"Belgium","region_id":1},{"id":39,"name":"Belize","region_id":1},{"id":27,"name":"Benin","region_id":1},{"id":29,"name":"Bermuda","region_id":1},{"id":35,"name":"Bhutan","region_id":1},{"id":31,"name":"Bolivia","region_id":1},{"id":32,"name":"Bonaire, Sint Eustatius and Saba","region_id":1},{"id":19,"name":"Bosnia and Herzegovina","region_id":1},{"id":37,"name":"Botswana","region_id":1},{"id":36,"name":"Bouvet Island","region_id":1},{"id":33,"name":"Brazil","region_id":1},{"id":108,"name":"British Indian Ocean Territory","region_id":1},{"id":30,"name":"Brunei Darussalam","region_id":1},{"id":24,"name":"Bulgaria","region_id":1},{"id":23,"name":"Burkina Faso","region_id":1},{"id":26,"name":"Burundi","region_id":1},{"id":119,"name":"Cambodia","region_id":1},{"id":49,"name":"Cameroon","region_id":1},{"id":40,"name":"Canada","region_id":1},{"id":54,"name":"Cape Verde","region_id":1},{"id":126,"name":"Cayman Islands","region_id":1},{"id":43,"name":"Central African Republic","region_id":1},{"id":217,"name":"Chad","region_id":1},{"id":48,"name":"Chile","region_id":1},{"id":50,"name":"China","region_id":1},{"id":56,"name":"Christmas Island","region_id":1},{"id":41,"name":"Cocos (Keeling) Islands","region_id":1},{"id":51,"name":"Colombia","region_id":1},{"id":121,"name":"Comoros","region_id":1},{"id":44,"name":"Congo","region_id":1},{"id":42,"name":"Congo, The Democratic Republic Of The","region_id":1},{"id":47,"name":"Cook Islands","region_id":1},{"id":52,"name":"Costa Rica","region_id":1},{"id":46,"name":"Côte D'Ivoire","region_id":1},{"id":100,"name":"Croatia","region_id":1},{"id":53,"name":"Cuba","region_id":1},{"id":55,"name":"Curaçao","region_id":1},{"id":57,"name":"Cyprus","region_id":1},{"id":58,"name":"Czech Republic","region_id":1},{"id":61,"name":"Denmark","region_id":1},{"id":60,"name":"Djibouti","region_id":1},{"id":62,"name":"Dominica","region_id":1},{"id":63,"name":"Dominican Republic","region_id":1},{"id":65,"name":"Ecuador","region_id":1},{"id":67,"name":"Egypt","region_id":1},{"id":212,"name":"El Salvador","region_id":1},{"id":90,"name":"Equatorial Guinea","region_id":1},{"id":69,"name":"Eritrea","region_id":1},{"id":66,"name":"Estonia","region_id":1},{"id":71,"name":"Ethiopia","region_id":1},{"id":74,"name":"Falkland Islands (Malvinas)","region_id":1},{"id":76,"name":"Faroe Islands","region_id":1},{"id":73,"name":"Fiji","region_id":1},{"id":72,"name":"Finland","region_id":1},{"id":77,"name":"France","region_id":1},{"id":82,"name":"French Guiana","region_id":1},{"id":177,"name":"French Polynesia","region_id":1},{"id":218,"name":"French Southern Territories","region_id":1},{"id":78,"name":"Gabon","region_id":1},{"id":87,"name":"Gambia","region_id":1},{"id":81,"name":"Georgia","region_id":1},{"id":59,"name":"Germany","region_id":1},{"id":84,"name":"Ghana","region_id":1},{"id":85,"name":"Gibraltar","region_id":1},{"id":91,"name":"Greece","region_id":1},{"id":86,"name":"Greenland","region_id":1},{"id":80,"name":"Grenada","region_id":1},{"id":89,"name":"Guadeloupe","region_id":1},{"id":94,"name":"Guam","region_id":1},{"id":93,"name":"Guatemala","region_id":1},{"id":83,"name":"Guernsey","region_id":1},{"id":88,"name":"Guinea","region_id":1},{"id":95,"name":"Guinea-Bissau","region_id":1},{"id":96,"name":"Guyana","region_id":1},{"id":101,"name":"Haiti","region_id":1},{"id":98,"name":"Heard and McDonald Islands","region_id":1},{"id":238,"name":"Holy See (Vatican City State)","region_id":1},{"id":99,"name":"Honduras","region_id":1},{"id":97,"name":"Hong Kong","region_id":1},{"id":102,"name":"Hungary","region_id":1},{"id":111,"name":"Iceland","region_id":1},{"id":107,"name":"India","region_id":1},{"id":103,"name":"Indonesia","region_id":1},{"id":110,"name":"Iran, Islamic Republic Of","region_id":1},{"id":109,"name":"Iraq","region_id":1},{"id":104,"name":"Ireland","region_id":1},{"id":106,"name":"Isle of Man","region_id":1},{"id":105,"name":"Israel","region_id":1},{"id":112,"name":"Italy","region_id":1},{"id":114,"name":"Jamaica","region_id":1},{"id":116,"name":"Japan","region_id":1},{"id":113,"name":"Jersey","region_id":1},{"id":115,"name":"Jordan","region_id":1},{"id":127,"name":"Kazakhstan","region_id":1},{"id":117,"name":"Kenya","region_id":1},{"id":120,"name":"Kiribati","region_id":1},{"id":123,"name":"Korea, Democratic People's Republic Of","region_id":1},{"id":124,"name":"Korea, Republic of","region_id":1},{"id":252,"name":"Kosovo","region_id":1},{"id":125,"name":"Kuwait","region_id":1},{"id":118,"name":"Kyrgyzstan","region_id":1},{"id":128,"name":"Lao People's Democratic Republic","region_id":1},{"id":137,"name":"Latvia","region_id":1},{"id":129,"name":"Lebanon","region_id":1},{"id":134,"name":"Lesotho","region_id":1},{"id":133,"name":"Liberia","region_id":1},{"id":138,"name":"Libya","region_id":1},{"id":131,"name":"Liechtenstein","region_id":1},{"id":135,"name":"Lithuania","region_id":1},{"id":136,"name":"Luxembourg","region_id":1},{"id":150,"name":"Macao","region_id":1},{"id":146,"name":"Macedonia, the Former Yugoslav Republic Of","region_id":1},{"id":144,"name":"Madagascar","region_id":1},{"id":158,"name":"Malawi","region_id":1},{"id":160,"name":"Malaysia","region_id":1},{"id":157,"name":"Maldives","region_id":1},{"id":147,"name":"Mali","region_id":1},{"id":155,"name":"Malta","region_id":1},{"id":145,"name":"Marshall Islands","region_id":1},{"id":152,"name":"Martinique","region_id":1},{"id":153,"name":"Mauritania","region_id":1},{"id":156,"name":"Mauritius","region_id":1},{"id":248,"name":"Mayotte","region_id":1},{"id":159,"name":"Mexico","region_id":1},{"id":75,"name":"Micronesia, Federated States Of","region_id":1},{"id":141,"name":"Moldova, Republic of","region_id":1},{"id":140,"name":"Monaco","region_id":1},{"id":149,"name":"Mongolia","region_id":1},{"id":142,"name":"Montenegro","region_id":1},{"id":154,"name":"Montserrat","region_id":1},{"id":139,"name":"Morocco","region_id":1},{"id":161,"name":"Mozambique","region_id":1},{"id":148,"name":"Myanmar","region_id":1},{"id":162,"name":"Namibia","region_id":1},{"id":171,"name":"Nauru","region_id":1},{"id":170,"name":"Nepal","region_id":1},{"id":168,"name":"Netherlands","region_id":1},{"id":9,"name":"Netherlands Antilles","region_id":1},{"id":163,"name":"New Caledonia","region_id":1},{"id":173,"name":"New Zealand","region_id":2},{"id":167,"name":"Nicaragua","region_id":1},{"id":164,"name":"Niger","region_id":1},{"id":166,"name":"Nigeria","region_id":1},{"id":172,"name":"Niue","region_id":1},{"id":165,"name":"Norfolk Island","region_id":1},{"id":151,"name":"Northern Mariana Islands","region_id":1},{"id":169,"name":"Norway","region_id":1},{"id":174,"name":"Oman","region_id":1},{"id":180,"name":"Pakistan","region_id":1},{"id":187,"name":"Palau","region_id":1},{"id":185,"name":"Palestine, State of","region_id":1},{"id":175,"name":"Panama","region_id":1},{"id":178,"name":"Papua New Guinea","region_id":1},{"id":188,"name":"Paraguay","region_id":1},{"id":176,"name":"Peru","region_id":1},{"id":179,"name":"Philippines","region_id":1},{"id":183,"name":"Pitcairn","region_id":1},{"id":181,"name":"Poland","region_id":1},{"id":186,"name":"Portugal","region_id":1},{"id":184,"name":"Puerto Rico","region_id":1},{"id":189,"name":"Qatar","region_id":1},{"id":190,"name":"Réunion","region_id":1},{"id":191,"name":"Romania","region_id":1},{"id":193,"name":"Russian Federation","region_id":1},{"id":194,"name":"Rwanda","region_id":1},{"id":28,"name":"Saint Barthélemy","region_id":1},{"id":201,"name":"Saint Helena","region_id":1},{"id":122,"name":"Saint Kitts And Nevis","region_id":1},{"id":130,"name":"Saint Lucia","region_id":1},{"id":143,"name":"Saint Martin","region_id":1},{"id":182,"name":"Saint Pierre And Miquelon","region_id":1},{"id":239,"name":"Saint Vincent And The Grenadines","region_id":1},{"id":246,"name":"Samoa","region_id":1},{"id":206,"name":"San Marino","region_id":1},{"id":211,"name":"Sao Tome and Principe","region_id":1},{"id":195,"name":"Saudi Arabia","region_id":1},{"id":207,"name":"Senegal","region_id":1},{"id":192,"name":"Serbia","region_id":1},{"id":197,"name":"Seychelles","region_id":1},{"id":205,"name":"Sierra Leone","region_id":1},{"id":200,"name":"Singapore","region_id":1},{"id":213,"name":"Sint Maarten","region_id":1},{"id":204,"name":"Slovakia","region_id":1},{"id":202,"name":"Slovenia","region_id":1},{"id":196,"name":"Solomon Islands","region_id":1},{"id":208,"name":"Somalia","region_id":1},{"id":249,"name":"South Africa","region_id":1},{"id":92,"name":"South Georgia and the South Sandwich Islands","region_id":1},{"id":210,"name":"South Sudan","region_id":1},{"id":70,"name":"Spain","region_id":1},{"id":132,"name":"Sri Lanka","region_id":1},{"id":198,"name":"Sudan","region_id":1},{"id":209,"name":"Suriname","region_id":1},{"id":203,"name":"Svalbard And Jan Mayen","region_id":1},{"id":215,"name":"Swaziland","region_id":1},{"id":199,"name":"Sweden","region_id":1},{"id":45,"name":"Switzerland","region_id":1},{"id":214,"name":"Syrian Arab Republic","region_id":1},{"id":230,"name":"Taiwan, Republic Of China","region_id":1},{"id":221,"name":"Tajikistan","region_id":1},{"id":231,"name":"Tanzania, United Republic of","region_id":1},{"id":220,"name":"Thailand","region_id":1},{"id":223,"name":"Timor-Leste","region_id":1},{"id":219,"name":"Togo","region_id":1},{"id":222,"name":"Tokelau","region_id":1},{"id":226,"name":"Tonga","region_id":1},{"id":228,"name":"Trinidad and Tobago","region_id":1},{"id":225,"name":"Tunisia","region_id":1},{"id":227,"name":"Turkey","region_id":1},{"id":224,"name":"Turkmenistan","region_id":1},{"id":216,"name":"Turks and Caicos Islands","region_id":1},{"id":229,"name":"Tuvalu","region_id":1},{"id":233,"name":"Uganda","region_id":1},{"id":232,"name":"Ukraine","region_id":1},{"id":3,"name":"United Arab Emirates","region_id":1},{"id":79,"name":"United Kingdom","region_id":4},{"id":235,"name":"United States","region_id":3},{"id":234,"name":"United States Minor Outlying Islands","region_id":3},{"id":236,"name":"Uruguay","region_id":1},{"id":237,"name":"Uzbekistan","region_id":1},{"id":244,"name":"Vanuatu","region_id":1},{"id":240,"name":"Venezuela, Bolivarian Republic of","region_id":1},{"id":243,"name":"Vietnam","region_id":1},{"id":241,"name":"Virgin Islands, British","region_id":1},{"id":242,"name":"Virgin Islands, U.S.","region_id":1},{"id":245,"name":"Wallis and Futuna","region_id":1},{"id":68,"name":"Western Sahara","region_id":1},{"id":247,"name":"Yemen","region_id":1},{"id":250,"name":"Zambia","region_id":1},{"id":251,"name":"Zimbabwe","region_id":1}],"sub_specialties":{"en":[{"broad_division_id":1,"groupId":"Radiology","label":"General radiology","value":1},{"broad_division_id":1,"groupId":"Radiology","label":"Abdominal radiology","value":2},{"broad_division_id":1,"groupId":"Radiology","label":"Breast radiology","value":3},{"broad_division_id":1,"groupId":"Radiology","label":"Cardiac radiology","value":97},{"broad_division_id":1,"groupId":"Radiology","label":"Chest radiology","value":4},{"broad_division_id":1,"groupId":"Radiology","label":"Emergency radiology","value":98},{"broad_division_id":1,"groupId":"Radiology","label":"Head and neck radiology","value":99},{"broad_division_id":1,"groupId":"Radiology","label":"Interventional radiology","value":5},{"broad_division_id":1,"groupId":"Radiology","label":"Musculoskeletal radiology","value":6},{"broad_division_id":1,"groupId":"Radiology","label":"Neurointerventional radiology","value":7},{"broad_division_id":1,"groupId":"Radiology","label":"Neuroradiology","value":8},{"broad_division_id":1,"groupId":"Radiology","label":"Nuclear medicine","value":9},{"broad_division_id":1,"groupId":"Radiology","label":"Paediatric radiology","value":10},{"broad_division_id":1,"groupId":"Radiology","label":"Vascular radiology","value":100},{"broad_division_id":1,"groupId":"Radiology","label":"Women's imaging","value":11},{"broad_division_id":1,"groupId":"Radiology","label":"Other radiology","value":12},{"broad_division_id":1,"groupId":"Pathology","label":"General pathology","value":13},{"broad_division_id":1,"groupId":"Pathology","label":"Anatomical pathology","value":14},{"broad_division_id":1,"groupId":"Pathology","label":"Chemical pathology","value":15},{"broad_division_id":1,"groupId":"Pathology","label":"Forensic pathology","value":16},{"broad_division_id":1,"groupId":"Pathology","label":"Haematology","value":17},{"broad_division_id":1,"groupId":"Pathology","label":"Other pathology","value":18},{"broad_division_id":1,"groupId":"Physician","label":"General medicine","value":19},{"broad_division_id":1,"groupId":"Physician","label":"Cardiology","value":20},{"broad_division_id":1,"groupId":"Physician","label":"Dermatology","value":21},{"broad_division_id":1,"groupId":"Physician","label":"Emergency medicine","value":22},{"broad_division_id":1,"groupId":"Physician","label":"Endocrinology","value":23},{"broad_division_id":1,"groupId":"Physician","label":"Gastroenterology","value":24},{"broad_division_id":1,"groupId":"Physician","label":"Geriatrician","value":25},{"broad_division_id":1,"groupId":"Physician","label":"Haematology","value":26},{"broad_division_id":1,"groupId":"Physician","label":"Immunology","value":27},{"broad_division_id":1,"groupId":"Physician","label":"Infectious diseases","value":28},{"broad_division_id":1,"groupId":"Physician","label":"Intensive care","value":29},{"broad_division_id":1,"groupId":"Physician","label":"Internal medicine","value":30},{"broad_division_id":1,"groupId":"Physician","label":"Palliative care","value":31},{"broad_division_id":1,"groupId":"Physician","label":"Neonatalology","value":32},{"broad_division_id":1,"groupId":"Physician","label":"Nephrology","value":33},{"broad_division_id":1,"groupId":"Physician","label":"Neurology","value":34},{"broad_division_id":1,"groupId":"Physician","label":"Obstetrics and/or gynaecology","value":35},{"broad_division_id":1,"groupId":"Physician","label":"Oncology","value":36},{"broad_division_id":1,"groupId":"Physician","label":"Ophthalmology","value":37},{"broad_division_id":1,"groupId":"Physician","label":"Pain management","value":38},{"broad_division_id":1,"groupId":"Physician","label":"Paediatrics","value":39},{"broad_division_id":1,"groupId":"Physician","label":"Psychiatry","value":40},{"broad_division_id":1,"groupId":"Physician","label":"Radiation oncology","value":41},{"broad_division_id":1,"groupId":"Physician","label":"Rehabilitation medicine","value":42},{"broad_division_id":1,"groupId":"Physician","label":"Respiratory medicine","value":43},{"broad_division_id":1,"groupId":"Physician","label":"Rheumatology","value":44},{"broad_division_id":1,"groupId":"Physician","label":"Other specialised medicine","value":45},{"broad_division_id":1,"groupId":"Surgery","label":"General surgeon","value":46},{"broad_division_id":1,"groupId":"Surgery","label":"Cardiothoracic surgeon","value":47},{"broad_division_id":1,"groupId":"Surgery","label":"Colorectal surgeon","value":48},{"broad_division_id":1,"groupId":"Surgery","label":"Ear nose and throat surgeon","value":49},{"broad_division_id":1,"groupId":"Surgery","label":"Head and neck surgeon","value":50},{"broad_division_id":1,"groupId":"Surgery","label":"Hepatobiliary surgeon","value":51},{"broad_division_id":1,"groupId":"Surgery","label":"Maxillofacial surgeon","value":52},{"broad_division_id":1,"groupId":"Surgery","label":"Neurosurgeon","value":53},{"broad_division_id":1,"groupId":"Surgery","label":"Oncological surgeon","value":54},{"broad_division_id":1,"groupId":"Surgery","label":"Orthopaedic surgeon","value":55},{"broad_division_id":1,"groupId":"Surgery","label":"Plastic surgeon","value":56},{"broad_division_id":1,"groupId":"Surgery","label":"Trauma surgeon","value":57},{"broad_division_id":1,"groupId":"Surgery","label":"Urology","value":58},{"broad_division_id":1,"groupId":"Surgery","label":"Vascular surgeon","value":59},{"broad_division_id":1,"groupId":"Surgery","label":"Other surgeon","value":60},{"broad_division_id":1,"groupId":"Anaesthetics","label":"Anaesthetics","value":61},{"broad_division_id":1,"groupId":"Other medical doctor","label":"Other medical doctor","value":62},{"broad_division_id":2,"groupId":"Imaging technologist","label":"General radiography","value":63},{"broad_division_id":2,"groupId":"Imaging technologist","label":"Angiography","value":64},{"broad_division_id":2,"groupId":"Imaging technologist","label":"CT radiography","value":65},{"broad_division_id":2,"groupId":"Imaging technologist","label":"MR imaging","value":66},{"broad_division_id":2,"groupId":"Imaging technologist","label":"Nuclear medicine","value":67},{"broad_division_id":2,"groupId":"Imaging technologist","label":"Radiation therapy","value":68},{"broad_division_id":2,"groupId":"Imaging technologist","label":"Radiology technician","value":69},{"broad_division_id":2,"groupId":"Imaging technologist","label":"Ultrasonography","value":70},{"broad_division_id":2,"groupId":"Imaging technologist","label":"Other imaging technologist","value":71},{"broad_division_id":3,"groupId":"Dentistry/dental science","label":"General dentistry","value":72},{"broad_division_id":3,"groupId":"Dentistry/dental science","label":"Endodontistry","value":73},{"broad_division_id":3,"groupId":"Dentistry/dental science","label":"Paediatric dentistry","value":74},{"broad_division_id":3,"groupId":"Dentistry/dental science","label":"Pedodontistry","value":75},{"broad_division_id":3,"groupId":"Dentistry/dental science","label":"Periodontistry","value":76},{"broad_division_id":3,"groupId":"Dentistry/dental science","label":"Prosthodontistry","value":77},{"broad_division_id":3,"groupId":"Dentistry/dental science","label":"Oral and maxillofacial surgery","value":78},{"broad_division_id":3,"groupId":"Dentistry/dental science","label":"Oral pathology","value":79},{"broad_division_id":3,"groupId":"Dentistry/dental science","label":"Orthodontistry","value":80},{"broad_division_id":3,"groupId":"Dentistry/dental science","label":"Other dentistry","value":81},{"broad_division_id":4,"groupId":"Nursing","label":"General nursing","value":82},{"broad_division_id":4,"groupId":"Nursing","label":"Anaesthetic nursing","value":83},{"broad_division_id":4,"groupId":"Nursing","label":"Dental nursing","value":84},{"broad_division_id":4,"groupId":"Nursing","label":"Emergency nursing","value":85},{"broad_division_id":4,"groupId":"Nursing","label":"Intensive care nursing","value":86},{"broad_division_id":4,"groupId":"Nursing","label":"Medical nursing","value":87},{"broad_division_id":4,"groupId":"Nursing","label":"Paediatric nursing","value":88},{"broad_division_id":4,"groupId":"Nursing","label":"Rehabilitation nursing","value":89},{"broad_division_id":4,"groupId":"Nursing","label":"Surgical nursing","value":90},{"broad_division_id":4,"groupId":"Nursing","label":"Other nursing","value":91},{"broad_division_id":5,"groupId":"Allied health","label":"Dietician","value":92},{"broad_division_id":5,"groupId":"Allied health","label":"Occupational therapy","value":93},{"broad_division_id":5,"groupId":"Allied health","label":"Physiotherapy","value":94},{"broad_division_id":5,"groupId":"Allied health","label":"Speech pathology","value":95},{"broad_division_id":5,"groupId":"Allied health","label":"Other allied health","value":96}],"en-US":[{"broad_division_id":1,"groupId":"Radiology","label":"General radiology","value":1},{"broad_division_id":1,"groupId":"Radiology","label":"Abdominal radiology","value":2},{"broad_division_id":1,"groupId":"Radiology","label":"Breast radiology","value":3},{"broad_division_id":1,"groupId":"Radiology","label":"Cardiac radiology","value":97},{"broad_division_id":1,"groupId":"Radiology","label":"Chest radiology","value":4},{"broad_division_id":1,"groupId":"Radiology","label":"Emergency radiology","value":98},{"broad_division_id":1,"groupId":"Radiology","label":"Head and neck radiology","value":99},{"broad_division_id":1,"groupId":"Radiology","label":"Interventional radiology","value":5},{"broad_division_id":1,"groupId":"Radiology","label":"Musculoskeletal radiology","value":6},{"broad_division_id":1,"groupId":"Radiology","label":"Neurointerventional radiology","value":7},{"broad_division_id":1,"groupId":"Radiology","label":"Neuroradiology","value":8},{"broad_division_id":1,"groupId":"Radiology","label":"Nuclear medicine","value":9},{"broad_division_id":1,"groupId":"Radiology","label":"Pediatric radiology","value":10},{"broad_division_id":1,"groupId":"Radiology","label":"Vascular radiology","value":100},{"broad_division_id":1,"groupId":"Radiology","label":"Women's imaging","value":11},{"broad_division_id":1,"groupId":"Radiology","label":"Other radiology","value":12},{"broad_division_id":1,"groupId":"Pathology","label":"General pathology","value":13},{"broad_division_id":1,"groupId":"Pathology","label":"Anatomical pathology","value":14},{"broad_division_id":1,"groupId":"Pathology","label":"Chemical pathology","value":15},{"broad_division_id":1,"groupId":"Pathology","label":"Forensic pathology","value":16},{"broad_division_id":1,"groupId":"Pathology","label":"Hematology","value":17},{"broad_division_id":1,"groupId":"Pathology","label":"Other pathology","value":18},{"broad_division_id":1,"groupId":"Physician","label":"General medicine","value":19},{"broad_division_id":1,"groupId":"Physician","label":"Cardiology","value":20},{"broad_division_id":1,"groupId":"Physician","label":"Dermatology","value":21},{"broad_division_id":1,"groupId":"Physician","label":"Emergency medicine","value":22},{"broad_division_id":1,"groupId":"Physician","label":"Endocrinology","value":23},{"broad_division_id":1,"groupId":"Physician","label":"Gastroenterology","value":24},{"broad_division_id":1,"groupId":"Physician","label":"Geriatrician","value":25},{"broad_division_id":1,"groupId":"Physician","label":"Hematology","value":26},{"broad_division_id":1,"groupId":"Physician","label":"Immunology","value":27},{"broad_division_id":1,"groupId":"Physician","label":"Infectious diseases","value":28},{"broad_division_id":1,"groupId":"Physician","label":"Intensive care","value":29},{"broad_division_id":1,"groupId":"Physician","label":"Internal medicine","value":30},{"broad_division_id":1,"groupId":"Physician","label":"Palliative care","value":31},{"broad_division_id":1,"groupId":"Physician","label":"Neonatalology","value":32},{"broad_division_id":1,"groupId":"Physician","label":"Nephrology","value":33},{"broad_division_id":1,"groupId":"Physician","label":"Neurology","value":34},{"broad_division_id":1,"groupId":"Physician","label":"Obstetrics and/or gynaecology","value":35},{"broad_division_id":1,"groupId":"Physician","label":"Oncology","value":36},{"broad_division_id":1,"groupId":"Physician","label":"Ophthalmology","value":37},{"broad_division_id":1,"groupId":"Physician","label":"Pain management","value":38},{"broad_division_id":1,"groupId":"Physician","label":"Pediatrics","value":39},{"broad_division_id":1,"groupId":"Physician","label":"Psychiatry","value":40},{"broad_division_id":1,"groupId":"Physician","label":"Radiation oncology","value":41},{"broad_division_id":1,"groupId":"Physician","label":"Rehabilitation medicine","value":42},{"broad_division_id":1,"groupId":"Physician","label":"Pulmonology","value":43},{"broad_division_id":1,"groupId":"Physician","label":"Rheumatology","value":44},{"broad_division_id":1,"groupId":"Physician","label":"Other specialised medicine","value":45},{"broad_division_id":1,"groupId":"Surgery","label":"General surgeon","value":46},{"broad_division_id":1,"groupId":"Surgery","label":"Cardiothoracic surgeon","value":47},{"broad_division_id":1,"groupId":"Surgery","label":"Colorectal surgeon","value":48},{"broad_division_id":1,"groupId":"Surgery","label":"Otolaryngology","value":49},{"broad_division_id":1,"groupId":"Surgery","label":"Head and neck surgeon","value":50},{"broad_division_id":1,"groupId":"Surgery","label":"Hepatobiliary surgeon","value":51},{"broad_division_id":1,"groupId":"Surgery","label":"Maxillofacial surgeon","value":52},{"broad_division_id":1,"groupId":"Surgery","label":"Neurosurgeon","value":53},{"broad_division_id":1,"groupId":"Surgery","label":"Oncological surgeon","value":54},{"broad_division_id":1,"groupId":"Surgery","label":"Orthopedic surgeon","value":55},{"broad_division_id":1,"groupId":"Surgery","label":"Plastic surgeon","value":56},{"broad_division_id":1,"groupId":"Surgery","label":"Trauma surgeon","value":57},{"broad_division_id":1,"groupId":"Surgery","label":"Urology","value":58},{"broad_division_id":1,"groupId":"Surgery","label":"Vascular surgeon","value":59},{"broad_division_id":1,"groupId":"Surgery","label":"Other surgeon","value":60},{"broad_division_id":1,"groupId":"Anaesthetics","label":"Anesthesiology","value":61},{"broad_division_id":1,"groupId":"Other medical doctor","label":"Other medical doctor","value":62},{"broad_division_id":2,"groupId":"Imaging technologist","label":"General radiography","value":63},{"broad_division_id":2,"groupId":"Imaging technologist","label":"Angiography","value":64},{"broad_division_id":2,"groupId":"Imaging technologist","label":"CT radiography","value":65},{"broad_division_id":2,"groupId":"Imaging technologist","label":"MR imaging","value":66},{"broad_division_id":2,"groupId":"Imaging technologist","label":"Nuclear medicine","value":67},{"broad_division_id":2,"groupId":"Imaging technologist","label":"Radiation therapy","value":68},{"broad_division_id":2,"groupId":"Imaging technologist","label":"Radiology technician","value":69},{"broad_division_id":2,"groupId":"Imaging technologist","label":"Ultrasonography","value":70},{"broad_division_id":2,"groupId":"Imaging technologist","label":"Other imaging technologist","value":71},{"broad_division_id":3,"groupId":"Dentistry/dental science","label":"General dentistry","value":72},{"broad_division_id":3,"groupId":"Dentistry/dental science","label":"Endodontistry","value":73},{"broad_division_id":3,"groupId":"Dentistry/dental science","label":"Paediatric dentistry","value":74},{"broad_division_id":3,"groupId":"Dentistry/dental science","label":"Pedodontistry","value":75},{"broad_division_id":3,"groupId":"Dentistry/dental science","label":"Periodontistry","value":76},{"broad_division_id":3,"groupId":"Dentistry/dental science","label":"Prosthodontistry","value":77},{"broad_division_id":3,"groupId":"Dentistry/dental science","label":"Oral and maxillofacial surgery","value":78},{"broad_division_id":3,"groupId":"Dentistry/dental science","label":"Oral pathology","value":79},{"broad_division_id":3,"groupId":"Dentistry/dental science","label":"Orthodontistry","value":80},{"broad_division_id":3,"groupId":"Dentistry/dental science","label":"Other dentistry","value":81},{"broad_division_id":4,"groupId":"Nursing","label":"General nursing","value":82},{"broad_division_id":4,"groupId":"Nursing","label":"Anesthetic nursing","value":83},{"broad_division_id":4,"groupId":"Nursing","label":"Dental nursing","value":84},{"broad_division_id":4,"groupId":"Nursing","label":"Emergency nursing","value":85},{"broad_division_id":4,"groupId":"Nursing","label":"Intensive care nursing","value":86},{"broad_division_id":4,"groupId":"Nursing","label":"Medical nursing","value":87},{"broad_division_id":4,"groupId":"Nursing","label":"Pediatric nursing","value":88},{"broad_division_id":4,"groupId":"Nursing","label":"Rehabilitation nursing","value":89},{"broad_division_id":4,"groupId":"Nursing","label":"Surgical nursing","value":90},{"broad_division_id":4,"groupId":"Nursing","label":"Other nursing","value":91},{"broad_division_id":5,"groupId":"Allied health","label":"Dietician","value":92},{"broad_division_id":5,"groupId":"Allied health","label":"Occupational therapy","value":93},{"broad_division_id":5,"groupId":"Allied health","label":"Physiotherapy","value":94},{"broad_division_id":5,"groupId":"Allied health","label":"Speech pathology","value":95},{"broad_division_id":5,"groupId":"Allied health","label":"Other allied health","value":96}]},"training_levels":[{"broad_division_id":1,"value":1,"region_labels":{"4":"Undergraduate Non-Medicine (year 1)","3":"Undergraduate Non-Medicine (year 1)","2":"Undergraduate Non-Medicine (year 1)","1":"Undergraduate Non-Medicine (year 1)"}},{"broad_division_id":1,"value":2,"region_labels":{"2":"Undergraduate Non-Medicine (year 2)","4":"Undergraduate Non-Medicine (year 2)","3":"Undergraduate Non-Medicine (year 2)","1":"Undergraduate Non-Medicine (year 2)"}},{"broad_division_id":1,"value":3,"region_labels":{"3":"Undergraduate Non-Medicine (year 3)","1":"Undergraduate Non-Medicine (year 3)","2":"Undergraduate Non-Medicine (year 3)","4":"Undergraduate Non-Medicine (year 3)"}},{"broad_division_id":1,"value":4,"region_labels":{"4":"Undergraduate Non-Medicine (year 4)","3":"Undergraduate Non-Medicine (year 4)","1":"Undergraduate Non-Medicine (year 4)","2":"Undergraduate Non-Medicine (year 4)"}},{"broad_division_id":1,"value":5,"region_labels":{"2":"Undergraduate Non-Medicine (year 5+)","3":"Undergraduate Non-Medicine (year 5+)","4":"Undergraduate Non-Medicine (year 5+)","1":"Undergraduate Non-Medicine (year 5+)"}},{"broad_division_id":1,"value":6,"region_labels":{"2":"Medical Student (year 1)","3":"Medical Student (year 1)","1":"Medical Student (year 1)","4":"Medical Student (year 1)"}},{"broad_division_id":1,"value":7,"region_labels":{"4":"Medical Student (year 2)","3":"Medical Student (year 2)","2":"Medical Student (year 2)","1":"Medical Student (year 2)"}},{"broad_division_id":1,"value":8,"region_labels":{"4":"Medical Student (year 3)","2":"Medical Student (year 3)","1":"Medical Student (year 3)","3":"Medical Student (year 3)"}},{"broad_division_id":1,"value":9,"region_labels":{"4":"Medical Student (year 4)","1":"Medical Student (year 4)","3":"Medical Student (year 4)","2":"Medical Student (year 4)"}},{"broad_division_id":1,"value":10,"region_labels":{"2":"Medical Student (year 5)","4":"Medical Student (year 5)","3":"Medical Student (year 5)","1":"Medical Student (year 5)"}},{"broad_division_id":1,"value":11,"region_labels":{"2":"Medical Student (year 6+)","1":"Medical Student (year 6+)","4":"Medical Student (year 6+)","3":"Medical Student (year 6+)"}},{"broad_division_id":1,"value":12,"region_labels":{"4":"Foundation Doctor (FY1)","3":"Postgraduate year 1 (PGY 1)","2":"Intern","1":"Intern"}},{"broad_division_id":1,"value":13,"region_labels":{"1":"Junior Doctor (HMO year 1)","2":"Resident (HMO year 1)","4":"Foundation Doctor (FY2)"}},{"broad_division_id":1,"value":14,"region_labels":{"1":"Junior Doctor (HMO year 2+)","4":"Foundation Doctor (FY3+)","2":"Resident (HMO year 2+)"}},{"broad_division_id":1,"value":15,"region_labels":{"3":"Postgraduate year 2 (PGY 2)","2":"Registrar (year 1)","4":"Specialty trainee year (ST 1)","1":"Specialty trainee (year 1)"}},{"broad_division_id":1,"value":16,"region_labels":{"3":"Postgraduate year 3 (PGY 3)","1":"Specialty trainee (year 2)","2":"Registrar (year 2)","4":"Specialty trainee year (ST 2)"}},{"broad_division_id":1,"value":17,"region_labels":{"3":"Postgraduate year 4 (PGY 4)","1":"Specialty trainee (year 3)","4":"Specialty trainee year (ST 3)","2":"Registrar (year 3)"}},{"broad_division_id":1,"value":18,"region_labels":{"3":"Postgraduate year 5 (PGY 6)","4":"Specialty trainee year (ST 4)","1":"Specialty trainee (year 4)","2":"Registrar (year 4)"}},{"broad_division_id":1,"value":19,"region_labels":{"4":"Specialty trainee year (ST 5)","2":"Registrar (year 5)","1":"Specialty trainee (year 5)"}},{"broad_division_id":1,"value":20,"region_labels":{"2":"Registrar (year 6)","1":"Specialty trainee (year 6)","4":"Specialty trainee year (ST 6)"}},{"broad_division_id":1,"value":21,"region_labels":{"4":"Specialty trainee year (ST 7+)","1":"Specialty trainee (year 7+)","2":"Registrar (year 7+)"}},{"broad_division_id":1,"value":22,"region_labels":{"3":"Fellow (PGY 6)","2":"Fellow (year 1)","4":"Fellow (year 1)","1":"Fellow (year 1)"}},{"broad_division_id":1,"value":23,"region_labels":{"3":"Fellow (PGY 7+)","2":"Fellow (year 2+)","1":"Fellow (year 2+)","4":"Fellow (year 2+)"}},{"broad_division_id":1,"value":24,"region_labels":{"3":"Attending (year 1-5)","4":"Consultant (year 1-5)","2":"Consultant (year 1-5)","1":"Consultant/Attending (year 1-5)"}},{"broad_division_id":1,"value":25,"region_labels":{"3":"Attending (year 6-10)","4":"Consultant (year 6-10)","1":"Consultant/Attending (year 6-10)","2":"Consultant (year 6-10)"}},{"broad_division_id":1,"value":26,"region_labels":{"3":"Attending (year 11-15)","4":"Consultant (year 11-15)","2":"Consultant (year 11-15)","1":"Consultant/Attending (year 11-15)"}},{"broad_division_id":1,"value":27,"region_labels":{"3":"Attending (year 15+)","1":"Consultant/Attending (year 15+)","2":"Consultant (year 15+)","4":"Consultant (year 15+)"}},{"broad_division_id":2,"value":28,"region_labels":{"3":"Student (year 1)","4":"Student (year 1)","1":"Student (year 1)","2":"Student (year 1)"}},{"broad_division_id":2,"value":29,"region_labels":{"3":"Student (year 2)","2":"Student (year 2)","4":"Student (year 2)","1":"Student (year 2)"}},{"broad_division_id":2,"value":30,"region_labels":{"3":"Student (year 3)","2":"Student (year 3)","1":"Student (year 3)","4":"Student (year 3)"}},{"broad_division_id":2,"value":31,"region_labels":{"3":"Student (year 4+)","2":"Student (year 4+)","4":"Student (year 4+)","1":"Student (year 4+)"}},{"broad_division_id":2,"value":32,"region_labels":{"3":"Radiographer/Technician","4":"Radiographer/Technician","1":"Radiographer/Technician","2":"Radiographer/Technician"}},{"broad_division_id":3,"value":39,"region_labels":{"3":"Undergraduate Non-Dental (year 1)","4":"Undergraduate Non-Dental (year 1)","1":"Undergraduate Non-Dental (year 1)","2":"Undergraduate Non-Dental (year 1)"}},{"broad_division_id":3,"value":40,"region_labels":{"3":"Undergraduate Non-Dental (year 2)","2":"Undergraduate Non-Dental (year 2)","4":"Undergraduate Non-Dental (year 2)","1":"Undergraduate Non-Dental (year 2)"}},{"broad_division_id":3,"value":41,"region_labels":{"3":"Undergraduate Non-Dental (year 3)","2":"Undergraduate Non-Dental (year 3)","1":"Undergraduate Non-Dental (year 3)","4":"Undergraduate Non-Dental (year 3)"}},{"broad_division_id":3,"value":42,"region_labels":{"3":"Undergraduate Non-Dental (year 4)","4":"Undergraduate Non-Dental (year 4)","2":"Undergraduate Non-Dental (year 4)","1":"Undergraduate Non-Dental (year 4)"}},{"broad_division_id":3,"value":43,"region_labels":{"3":"Undergraduate Non-Dental (year 5+)","1":"Undergraduate Non-Dental (year 5+)","2":"Undergraduate Non-Dental (year 5+)","4":"Undergraduate Non-Dental (year 5+)"}},{"broad_division_id":3,"value":44,"region_labels":{"3":"Dentistry Student (year 1)","1":"Dentistry Student (year 1)","2":"Dentistry Student (year 1)","4":"Dentistry Student (year 1)"}},{"broad_division_id":3,"value":45,"region_labels":{"3":"Dentistry Student (year 2)","1":"Dentistry Student (year 2)","2":"Dentistry Student (year 2)","4":"Dentistry Student (year 2)"}},{"broad_division_id":3,"value":46,"region_labels":{"3":"Dentistry Student (year 3)","2":"Dentistry Student (year 3)","4":"Dentistry Student (year 3)","1":"Dentistry Student (year 3)"}},{"broad_division_id":3,"value":47,"region_labels":{"3":"Dentistry Student (year 4)","4":"Dentistry Student (year 4)","1":"Dentistry Student (year 4)","2":"Dentistry Student (year 4)"}},{"broad_division_id":3,"value":48,"region_labels":{"3":"Dentistry Student (year 5)","1":"Dentistry Student (year 5)","4":"Dentistry Student (year 5)","2":"Dentistry Student (year 5)"}},{"broad_division_id":3,"value":49,"region_labels":{"3":"Dentistry Student (year 6+)","1":"Dentistry Student (year 6+)","4":"Dentistry Student (year 6+)","2":"Dentistry Student (year 6+)"}},{"broad_division_id":3,"value":50,"region_labels":{"3":"General Dentist","2":"General Dentist","4":"General Dentist","1":"General Dentist"}},{"broad_division_id":3,"value":51,"region_labels":{"3":"Specialty Dentist","4":"Specialty Dentist","1":"Specialty Dentist","2":"Specialty Dentist"}},{"broad_division_id":4,"value":33,"region_labels":{"3":"Nursing Student (year 1)","2":"Nursing Student (year 1)","1":"Nursing Student (year 1)","4":"Nursing Student (year 1)"}},{"broad_division_id":4,"value":34,"region_labels":{"3":"Nursing Student (year 2)","2":"Nursing Student (year 2)","1":"Nursing Student (year 2)","4":"Nursing Student (year 2)"}},{"broad_division_id":4,"value":35,"region_labels":{"3":"Nursing Student (year 3)","4":"Nursing Student (year 3)","1":"Nursing Student (year 3)","2":"Nursing Student (year 3)"}},{"broad_division_id":4,"value":36,"region_labels":{"3":"Nursing Student (year 4+)","4":"Nursing Student (year 4+)","2":"Nursing Student (year 4+)","1":"Nursing Student (year 4+)"}},{"broad_division_id":4,"value":37,"region_labels":{"3":"Registered Nurse","2":"Registered Nurse","4":"Registered Nurse","1":"Registered Nurse"}},{"broad_division_id":4,"value":38,"region_labels":{"3":"Specialty Nurse","2":"Specialty Nurse","1":"Specialty Nurse","4":"Specialty Nurse"}},{"broad_division_id":5,"value":52,"region_labels":{"3":"Allied Health Student (year 2)","1":"Allied Health Student (year 2)","4":"Allied Health Student (year 2)","2":"Allied Health Student (year 2)"}},{"broad_division_id":5,"value":53,"region_labels":{"3":"Allied Health Student (year 3)","2":"Allied Health Student (year 3)","1":"Allied Health Student (year 3)","4":"Allied Health Student (year 3)"}},{"broad_division_id":5,"value":54,"region_labels":{"3":"Allied Health Student (year 4)","1":"Allied Health Student (year 4)","4":"Allied Health Student (year 4)","2":"Allied Health Student (year 4)"}},{"broad_division_id":5,"value":55,"region_labels":{"3":"Allied Health Student (year 5+)","1":"Allied Health Student (year 5+)","4":"Allied Health Student (year 5+)","2":"Allied Health Student (year 5+)"}},{"broad_division_id":5,"value":56,"region_labels":{"3":"Allied Health Professional","4":"Allied Health Professional","2":"Allied Health Professional","1":"Allied Health Professional"}}],"default_training_region_id":1,"en_us_country_ids":[5,12,20,31,33,48,51,52,53,62,63,65,93,96,99,101,114,122,130,159,167,175,176,188,209,212,228,234,235,236,239,240,242],"selected_country_id":235,"email":"","container_id":"signup-modal-container"}

Beam hardening

Dr Yuranga Weerakkody ◉ and Andrew Murphy ◉ et al.

Beam hardening is the phenomenon occurring when an x-ray beam comprised of polychromatic energies passes through an object, resulting in selective attenuation of lower energy photons. The effect is conceptually similar to a high-pass filter, in that only higher energy photons are left to contribute to the beam and thus mean beam energy is increased ("hardened") ¹.

This same phenomenon is exploited in radiography and CT, by use of metal filters in order to "pre-harden" the x-ray spectrum and minimize low energy photons (see filters) ².

In CT, beam hardening from a very dense target (e.g. bone or iodinated contrast) may result in characteristic artifacts. CT beam hardening artifact has two distinct manifestations, streaking (dark bands) and cupping artifacts.

Streaking artifact

Streaking artifact appears as multiple dark streaking bands positioned between two dense objects, for example at the posterior fossa. Streaking may also occur along the long axis of a single high attenuation object. It is the result of the polychromatic x-ray being ‘hardened’ at different rates according to rotational position of the tube/detector.

Cupping artifact

Cupping artifact refers to a falsely bright appearance along the periphery of an object. Because the x-ray beam is "hardened" by passing through the target tissue, the mean photon energy will be higher near the tissue exit. Since higher energy photons are less attenuated by tissue, the beam will be less attenuated versus identical tissue near the skin entry site. If uncorrected during CT reconstruction, these differences in expected attenuation profile lead to a peripherally dense appearance.

Since simple beam hardening correction is built into modern scanners, cupping artifact is not usually encountered during clinical imaging. The characteristic "cupped shaped profile" of the CT numbers and is best demonstrated when scanning phantoms ^1,2.

Beam hardening reduction

Most modern CT scanners utilize filters in an attempted to overcome beam hardening. Often an attenuating substance (often metallic) is appropriated to harden the beam before it reaches the patient.

Often, CT scanners need to be calibrated with vendor-specific phantoms to overcome unavoidable beam hardening artifacts such a cupping.

Quiz questions

References

Physics and imaging technology: CT

computed tomography (CT)
- CT technology
- dual energy CT
  - clinical applications of dual energy CT
    - virtual non-contrast imaging
    - abdominal
    - vascular
    - urinary system
    - musculoskeletal
- CT image reconstruction
- CT image quality
- CT dose
- CT contrast medium
  - iodinated contrast media
- coronary CT angiography
- CT artifacts
  - patient-based artifacts
    - motion artifact
    - transient interruption of contrast
  - physics-based artifacts
  - hardware-based artifacts
    - ring artifact
    - tube arcing
    - out of field artifact
    - air bubble artifact
    - helical and multichannel artifacts
- CT safety
- history of CT
  - Godfrey N Hounsfield

Article information

rID: 48590

Section: Radiography

Tag: artefacts

Synonyms or Alternate Spellings:

Beam-hardening

Support Radiopaedia and see fewer ads

Cases and figures

Figure 1: streak, beam hardening and ring artifactsFigure 1: streak, beam hardening and ring artifacts

Drag here to reorder.

Updating… Please wait.

Unable to process the form. Check for errors and try again.

Thank you for updating your details.