EVALUATION OF SOFT-TISSUE FOREIGN-BODIES - COMPARING CONVENTIONAL PLAIN FILM RADIOGRAPHY, COMPUTED RADIOGRAPHY PRINTED ON FILM, AND COMPUTED RADIOGRAPHY DISPLAYED ON A COMPUTER WORKSTATION

OBJECTIVE. The study was performed to evaluate detection of soft-tissu e foreign bodies using conventional radiography (film-screen radiograp hy), computed radiography printed on films (computed radiography-hard copy), and computed radiography displayed on a computer workstation (c omputed radiography-soft copy). SUBJECTS AND METHODS. Fifteen foreign bodies of different size, shape, and composition were implanted at dif ferent locations in a fresh cadaveric hand, and images were obtained u sing three radiographic techniques. Images were evaluated by four boar d-certified radiologists to ascertain the conspicuity of the foreign b odies with the different techniques. A subjective grade was assigned t o each image in an attempt to identify the relative conspicuity of for eign bodies when imaged with the three techniques. RESULTS. Computed r adiography-soft copy is the preferred imaging technique for the detect ion of wood and plastic foreign bodies in soft tissue regardless of th e size of the wood or the plastic, No significant differences in consp icuity among the three techniques were demonstrated with glass foreign bodies. CONCLUSION. Detection of soft-tissue foreign bodies is best d one using computed radiography-soft copy instead of film-screen radiog raphy and computed radiography-hard copy imaging.