Radiology, Vol 138, 689-696, Copyright © 1981 by Radiological Society of North America
Intensified tomography: enhancement of soft-tissue discrimination in conventional tomography of the brain. A comparison with computed tomography
JR Perilhou, JR Metzger, EA Cabanis and AG Maugis
A new technique to enhance the conventional tomographic images of soft
tissues such as the brain is described. The method, called intensified
tomography, optimizes the information available from conventional
tomography through the use of three modifications: a specially designed
filter to attenuate selectively the x-ray beam at the source to compensate
for the variable shape of the skull, an improved blurring movement to
reduce system artifacts, and enhanced image contrast by the superimposition
of several identical images on the same film or television screen.
Intensified tomography was performed in 200 patients. Ten of these
tomographic images later were compared with computed tomographic (CT) scans
to confirm that the ventricles could be imaged with intensified tomography.
An unexpected case of lenticulocapsular calcification was also demonstrated
by intensified tomography and confirmed by CT. It is proposed that
intensified tomography be developed as a preliminary screening technique to
be used in places where CT is not readily available.
