Detection of porcine bone lesions and fissures: comparing digital selenium, digital luminescence, and analog film-screen radiography.

OBJECTIVE: The purpose of our study was to compare the diagnostic performance of a digital selenium detector (Thoravision) with that of analog film-screen systems and digital luminescence radiography in skeletal radiography for the detection of fissures and lesions in porcine bones. MATERIALS AND METHODS: One hundred bones taken from domestic pigs (50 ribs and 50 femurs) were divided into two equal groups. Fissures and bone lesions were created in 50 bones and 50 served as controls. The bones were examined using film-screen systems, digital luminescence radiography, and digital selenium radiography at various doses. Digital selenium radiography exposure values were adapted to the image geometry differing from the reference methods with a detector focus distance of 2.15 m. Four radiologists independently evaluated image quality and detectability of fissures and lesions on a five-point scale of confidence. Statistical evaluation was based on receiver operating characteristic curve analysis. RESULTS: Fissures and bone lesions were detected most reliably using the mammography film-screen system, but the difference in the results of the analog and digital reference images did not achieve statistical significance. CONCLUSION: Compared with analog film-screen systems, the lower spatial resolution of the digital selenium and digital luminescence radiography systems does not affect detectability of fissures and bone lesions in porcine bone. Selenium is effective in skeletal radiography for detecting fissures and bone lesions. With digital selenium and digital luminescence radiography, the surface dose can be cut to half that required for 200-speed film-screen systems without losing any diagnostically relevant information.

[Comparison of digital selenium radiography with an analog screen-film system in the diagnostic process of pneumoconiosis according to ILO classification]. / Vergleich der digitalen Selenradiographie mit einem analogen Film-Folien-System in der Diagnostik von Staublungenerkrankungen anhand der ILO-Klassifikation.

UNLABELLED: Comparison of digital selenium radiography with an analog screen-film system in the diagnostic process of pneumoconiosis according to ILO classification. PURPOSE: The aim of the study was to determine the diagnostic value of digital selenium radiography in patients with pneumoconiosis. For this purpose chest x-rays by digital selenium radiography and analog screen-film system were compared according to the ILO classification of pneumoconiosis. METHOD: After approval of the study by the local ethic commission and the Federal German Office for Radiation Protection 50 patients were subjected to x-rays by digital selenium radiography (Thoravision; Philips Medical Systems, Hamburg, Germany) and analog screen-film system of the same day within the scope of an industrial medicine preventive checkup. Four investigators rated the chest x-rays according to the ILO classification of pneumoconiosis. RESULTS: The findings demonstrated by chest x-rays according to ILO classification were rated similar by digital selenium radiography and analog screen film systems. Image quality of the digital pictures was rated significantly better. CONCLUSION: The use of digital selenium radiography in evaluating chest x-rays according to the ILO classification does not result in over- or underestimation of pulmonary pathologies. Hence, in the diagnosis of pneumoconiosis, digital selenium radiography can replace the tested analog screen-film system.