SMALLER FORMAT, LASER CAMERA-GENERATED IMAGES - ACCEPTABILITY AND COST SERVINGS

Rationale and Objectives. To evaluate the use of laser-generated small er images in neuroradiologic practice. Materials and Methods. Computed tomographic (CT) scans of the heads of five subjects were obtained at bone and brain windows in three formats: 12:1 (12 images on a 35 x 33 -cm film), 15:1, and 20:1, Two laser-camera systems, were used. Images were measured, physically separated, and reconstructed as a 35 x 43-c m ensemble; they were presented randomly to seven radiologists who ass essed image size and interpretability. Observer preference was also no ted. One camera system was evaluated for contrast and spatial resoluti on by a medical physicist. Results, There were negligible differences in image area between the 15:1 and 20:1 formats. No discernible differ ences in quality were found among the three formats. The 12:1 images w ere preferred by the radiologists, but the 20:1 images were deemed acc eptable. Annualized cost savings of 46.7%, or $46,650, were projected for adoption of the 20:1 image format for neuroradiologic CT and magne tic resonance imaging. Conclusion. No major differences were detected in image area between the 15:1. and the 20:1 image formats or in image quality among the three formats. Use of a smaller image format may re sult in substantial cost savings.