Chest radiography: Depiction of normal anatomy and pathologic structures with selenium-based digital radiography versus conventional screen-film radiography

PURPOSE: To compare the subjective visibility of normal anatomy and pathologic structures in the chest on conventional screen-film radiographs versus selenium-based digital radiographs. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Screen-film and digital standard posteroanterior (PA) and lateral chest radiographs were obtained in 49 patients (32 men, 17 women; mean age, 60 years; range, 24-91 years) undergoing chest computed tomography (CT). Conventional images were phototimed at 115 kVp with use of a wide-latitude screen-film system and an antiscatter grid. Digital images were obtained at 150 kVp with use of a commercial system with a selenium detector and an air gap alone for scatter reduction. The image sets were independently compared by four radiologists, and the relative visibility of anatomic and pathologic features (proved at CT) was graded. Statistical significance (P < .0028) was evaluated with a one-tailed t test. RESULTS: Visibility with the digital images was statistically significantly increased for 11 of 13 normal anatomic features and for pathologic structures in the lung, soft tissue, and bone. CONCLUSION: Subjective visibility of pathologic structures and most normal anatomic features in the thorax was statistically significantly improved with selenium-based digital chest radiography compared with conventional screen-film chest radiography.