Digital thoracic radiography using a selenium detector: Prospective comparison with conventional radiography

Purpose: To compare a new digital chest radiography system that uses amorphous selenium as the x-ray detector, with conventional radiography for the detection of pathological alterations of the chest. Material and methods: Two observers analysed pairs of posteroanterior and lateral chest radiographs of 95 patients. One pair of radiographs was obtained with the digital selenium chest radiography system, and the other with conventional film-screen technique. 9 criteria were rated using a 4 point scale. Technical parameters were standardised. Radiation dose was measured in both techniques and compared. Results: A-total of 855 criteria were rated. 740 findings were diagnosed in accordance on both techniques ((740)/(855) = 87 %). 115 criteria ((115)/(855) = 13%) showed deviations. The mean radiation dose for the selenium detector was 0.02 cGy and for the conventional system 0.11 cGy. Conclusion: The exposure of radiation is lower using a selenium x-ray detector compared to conventional film-screen technique in chest radiography. The digital selenium system performs well in a clinical setting, providing visualisation of pathotogical findings as good as a standard screen-film system.