IMAGE INTENSIFIER BASED DIGITAL CHEST RADIOGRAPHY - VISIBILITY OF LESIONS AND ANATOMY

Contrast- and edge-enhanced digital monitor images from an image inten sifier system for chest radiography were compared to conventional radi ograms using visual grading analysis. Eleven observers graded the visi bility of rounded opacities, the carinal region, fine line structures, and also compared the overall quality of images from 20 patients. The results showed significantly better visibility on the digital monitor for the rounded opacities and the mediastinum compared to the convent ional radiograms. The overall quality of the digital images was also c onsidered better. However, the digital images showed significantly inf erior visibility for the line structures in comparison with the conven tional radiograms. Our study indicates that the present contrast- and edge-enhanced digital images, with a spatial resolution of 1 024 x 1 0 24 pixels and a contrast resolution of 8 bits, are superior to convent ional radiograms for the visualization of mediastinal anatomy and roun ded opacities. The clinical importance of the inferior visibility of f ine line structures is not clear.