CAN DIGITAL SELENIUM DETECTOR-BASED CHEST IMAGING REPLACE STANDARD ANALOG FILM-SCREEN IMAGING

Can digital selenium detector-based chest imaging replace standard ana logue film screen imaging? Purpose: To find out the diagnostic value o f digital selenium radiography, we compared the image quality of chest x-ray images from 50 patients who had been examined via conventional chest x-ray and digital selenium radiography of the chest. Method: 50 patients with a malignant melanoma underwent chest x-ray within 3 mont hs in conventional technique and with digital selenium radiography (Th oravision; Philips Medical Systems, Hamburg, Germany). In this period none of the patients showed a difference in respect of clinical status or radiological diagnosis. Simultaneous examinations on the same day were not performed to avoid unnecessary exposure to x-rays. The digita l and conventional images were compared by 4 radiologists with regard to image quality by the detection of defined anatomic structures. Resu lts: Image quality of digital selenium radiography was considered supe rior to that of conventional chest x-rays in the mediastinum, the retr ocardiac and retrodiaphragmatic areas, the superior and inferior robes of the lung especially near the parietal pleura, and the chest wall. Conclusions: Compared to analogous techniques there is no loss of imag e information when employing digital selenium radiography in chest x-r ays. On the contrary, new assessment criteria may be gained. We conclu de that digital selenium radiography offers diagnostic advantages in c hest x-ray examination.