COMPUTED RADIOGRAPHY AND FILM DIGITIZER INPUTS TO AN INTENSIVE-CARE UNIT TELERADIOLOGY SYSTEM - AN IMAGE QUALITY COMPARISON

Rationale and Qbjectives. We compared computed radiography (CR) with a film digitizer as an image input device for transmitting radiographs to intensive care unit (ICU) displays. Methods. Limiting spatial resol ution and low-contrast detectability performance were determined for a 600-speed screen-film combination and CR films. The same image data w ere transmitted to ICU displays directly from the CR or by digitizing the conventional film. Results. CR resolution ranged from 2.5 to 3 lin e pairs per millimeter (Ip/mm) depending on cassette size. Display sta tion resolution for the CR image data was 1.5-1.9 1p/mm, but improved resolution could be achieved using display magnification modes. Film d igitization resulted in a loss of resolution. Direct transmission of C R image data to display stations gave low-contrast detectability simil ar to that obtained with CR film. Conclusion. ICU teleradiology displa ys that use CR, rather than film digitizers, offer improved image qual ity and superior operational efficiency.