CLINICAL-EVALUATION OF MANUAL AND AUTOMATIC EXPOSURE CONTROL TECHNIQUES IN FILM-BASED CHEST RADIOGRAPHY

Chest radiographs obtained with either automatic exposure control (AEC ) technique. or manual exposure control (MEG) technique. were compared in a sample of 329 cardiological and cardiosurgery patients. Paramete rs evaluated, a-ere various anatomical regions, according to their app earance in both posteroanterior (PA) and lateral radiographs. Lateral radiographs obtained with the AEC technique demonstrated better image quality than those obtained with the manual technique. There was no de finite advantage of the AEC technique in PA radiographs. The AEC techn ique has the potential to improve the quality of lateral chest radiogr aphs of cardiological and cardiosurgery patients. It is considered to be a useful tool in chest radiography.