CHEST COMPUTED-TOMOGRAPHY DISPLAY PREFERENCES - SURVEY OF THORACIC RADIOLOGISTS

RATIONALE AND OBJECTIVES. The authors conducted a survey of dedicated thoracic radiologists and tabulated their preferences for reconstructi on algorithm, display, and photography of computed tomography (CT) sca ns of the chest. METHODS. Data were derived from a mail survey of 343 active members of the Society of Thoracic Radiology and based on a set of 20 questions about the display and photography of chest CT scans. The response rate was 35.4%. RESULTS. There were 119 usable replies fr om 31 states and 8 countries. Although there was considerable variatio n, the questionnaire indicates that the ''typical'' dedicated thoracic radiologist, regardless of practice setting, uses a standard reconstr uction algorithm for chest CT and prints images on a laser imager usin g the ''sharp'' setting with a 12-on-1 format, Window settings for eva luating the lung are window-width 1500 HU and window-level -600 HU. Wi ndow settings for evaluating the mediastinum are window-width 350 HU a nd window-level 40 HU. CONCLUSIONS. Although there is wide variation i n the preferences used to display and photograph chest CT scans, most thoracic radiologists have similar display preferences.