Dose reduction in skeletal and chest radiography using a large-area flat-panel detector based on amorphous silicon and thallium-doped cesium iodide: technical background,basic image quality parameters,and review of the literature
(1) Department of Diagnostic Radiology, University Hospital of Regensburg, Franz-Josef-Strauss-Allee 11, 93053 Regensburg, Germany;(2) Department of Radiology, Hospital Hohe Warte, Hohe Warte 8, 95445 Bayreuth, Germany
Abstract:
The two most frequently performed diagnostic X-ray examinations are those of the extremities and of the chest. Thus, dose reduction in the field of conventional skeletal and chest radiography is an important issue and there is a need to reduce man-made ionizing radiation. The large-area flat-panel detector based on amorphous silicon and thallium-doped cesium iodide provides a significant reduction of radiation dose in skeletal and chest radiography compared with traditional imaging systems. This article describes the technical background and basic image quality parameters of this 43×43-cm digital system, and summarizes the available literature (years 2000–2003) concerning dose reduction in experimental and clinical studies. Due to its high detective quantum efficiency and dynamic range compared with traditional screen-film systems, a dose reduction of up to 50% is possible without loss of image quality.Abbreviations FD Large-area flat-panel detector based on amorphous silicon and thallium-doped cesium iodide - SFR Screen-film radiography - SPR Storage phosphor radiography - DQE Detective quantum efficiency - MTF Modulation transfer function - lp/mm Line pairs per millimeter - ROC Receiver operating characteristic