A NEW ASYMMETRIC SCREEN-FILM COMBINATION FOR CONVENTIONAL CHEST RADIOGRAPHY - EVALUATION IN 50 PATIENTS

OBJECTIVE. A new asymmetric screen-film combination for conventional chest radiography was evaluated by four thoracic radiologists. MATERIALS AND METHODS. Fifty chest radiographs obtained with a new asymmetric screen-film combination were compared with radiographs obtained in the same patients during the same breath-hold with a conventional system. Patients referred from the oncology service were studied because of the increased prevalence of abnormal findings on chest radiographs in this population. The differences in the quality of the images were assessed by four chest radiologists who used a direct-comparison technique. Eleven anatomic shadows that are normal on chest radiographs were assessed. Fifty abnormal findings also were compared. RESULTS. The image quality of the new asymmetric screen-film combination was judged to be superior to that of the conventional system for normal anatomy and abnormal findings (p less-than-or-equal-to .003). CONCLUSION. The new asymmetric film consistently showed more clinically useful detail in the mediastinum and in the lung projected over the diaphragm and heart. The radiation dose was about 30% less with the new screen-film system.