[The reduction of the radiation dosage by means of storage phosphor-film radiography compared to a conventional film-screen system with a grid cassette on a skull phantom]

[The future of bedside chest radiography: Comparative study of mobile flat-panels and needle-image plate storage phosphor systems]

BACKGROUND

Chest radiography is the most common diagnostic modality in intensive care units with new mobile flat-panels gaining more attention and availability in addition to the already used storage phosphor plates.

PURPOSE

Comparison of the image quality of mobile flat-panels and needle-image plate storage phosphor system in terms of bedside chest radiography.

MATERIALS AND METHODS

Retrospective analysis of 84 bedside chest radiographs of 42 intensive care patients (20 women, 22 men, average age: 65 years). All images were acquired during daily routine. For each patient, two images were analyzed, one from each system mentioned above. Two blinded radiologists evaluated the image quality based on ten criteria (e.g., diaphragm, heart contour, tracheal bifurcation, thoracic spine, lung structure, consolidations, foreign material, and overall impression) using a 5-point visibility scale (1 = excellent, 5 = not usable).

RESULTS

There was no significant difference between the image quality of the two systems (p < 0.05). Overall some anatomical structures such as the diaphragm, heart, pulmonary consolidations and foreign material were considered of higher diagnostic quality compared to others, e.g., tracheal bifurcation and thoracic spine.

CONCLUSIONS

Mobile flat-panels achieve an image quality which is as good as those of needle-image plate storage phosphor systems. In addition, they allow immediate evaluation of the image quality but in return are much more expensive in terms of purchase and maintenance.

Advances in Digital Radiography: Physical Principles and System Overview

During the past two decades, digital radiography has supplanted screen-film radiography in many radiology departments. Today, manufacturers provide a variety of digital imaging solutions based on various detector and readout technologies. Digital detectors allow implementation of a fully digital picture archiving and communication system, in which images are stored digitally and are available anytime. Image distribution in hospitals can now be achieved electronically by means of web-based technology with no risk of losing images. Other advantages of digital radiography include higher patient throughput, increased dose efficiency, and the greater dynamic range of digital detectors with possible reduction of radiation exposure to the patient. The future of radiography will be digital, and it behooves radiologists to be familiar with the technical principles, image quality criteria, and radiation exposure issues associated with the various digital radiography systems that are currently available.

Does digital imaging decrease patient dose? A pilot study and review of the literature

The potential for decreasing patient dose is one of the main arguments for the justification of the cost of digital imaging equipment. However, the literature review with respect to patient doses using digital imaging modalities, presents conflicting results. During this study, patients' entrance surface doses were measured for three simple radiographic examinations, in European centres equipped with a computed radiography digital system. Results showed that doses between centres varied from 30% for chest LAT to 250% for chest PA examination. With the digital image quality criteria still under discussion, and with the post-processing parameters and/or image documentations varying, any dose comparisons between conventional/digital systems, as well as dose comparisons between different centre using digital units, are difficult. Clinical trials are required in order to define reference levels associated with quality of digital image necessary to address specific clinical requirements.