Radiology, Vol 148, 1-5, Copyright © 1983 by Radiological Society of North America
Digital radiography of the chest: clinical experience with a prototype unit
RG Fraser, E Breatnach and GT Barnes
A prototype digital unit dedicated to chest radiography was used to examine
50 selected patients for a comparison study of the capability of digital
images and conventional chest radiographs to reveal normal anatomic
structures and a variety of pathologic states. The images in both modes
were submitted for interpretation to seven experienced radiologists and a
standardized questionnaire completed for each. Visibility of seven anatomic
structures in the mediastinum was consistently better on the digital images
than on the conventional radiographs. With minor exceptions, pathologic
states were equally well seen in the two systems. Despite the less familiar
viewing format of the digital images, the mean confidence levels achieved
were higher than for those on the conventional radiographs; this difference
was statistically significant both for normal anatomic structures (p =
0.001) and pathologic states (p = 0.01). The advantages and disadvantages
of the digital technique are discussed.
