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Portrait of Anders Tingberg. Photo

Anders Tingberg

Associate professor

Portrait of Anders Tingberg. Photo

Influence of the characteristic curve on the clinical image quality of lumbar spine and chest radiographs.

Author

  • Anders Tingberg
  • C Herrmann
  • B Lanhede
  • A Almén
  • M Sandborg
  • G McVey
  • Sören Mattsson
  • W Panzer
  • Jack Besjakov
  • L G Månsson
  • S Kheddache
  • G Alm Carlsson
  • D R Dance
  • U Tylén
  • M Zankl
Show all

Summary, in English

The "European Guidelines on Quality Criteria for Diagnostic Radiographic Images" do not address the choice of the film characteristic (H&D) curve, which is an important parameter for the description of a radiographic screen–film system. The image contrast of clinical lumbar spine and chest radiographs was altered by digital image processing techniques, simulating images with different H&D curves, both steeper and flatter than the original. The manipulated images were printed on film for evaluation. Seven experienced radiologists evaluated the clinical image quality by analysing the fulfilment of the European Image Criteria (ICS) and by visual grading analysis (VGA) of in total 224 lumbar spine and 360 chest images. A parallel study of the effect of the H&D curve has also been made using a theoretical model. The contrast ({Delta}OD) of relevant anatomical details was calculated, using a Monte Carlo simulation-model of the complete imaging system including a 3D voxel phantom of a patient. Correlations between the calculated contrast and the radiologists' assessment by VGA were sought. The results of the radiologists' assessment show that the quality in selected regions of lumbar spine and chest images can be significantly improved by the use of films with a steeper H&D curve compared with the standard latitude film. Significant (p<0.05) correlations were found between the VGA results and the calculations of the contrast of transverse processes and trabecular details in the lumbar spine vertebrae, and with the contrast of blood vessels in the retrocardiac area of the chest.

Department/s

  • Medical Radiation Physics, Malmö
  • Radiology Diagnostics, Malmö

Publishing year

2004

Language

English

Pages

204-215

Publication/Series

British Journal of Radiology

Volume

77

Issue

915

Document type

Journal article

Publisher

British Institute of Radiology

Topic

  • Radiology, Nuclear Medicine and Medical Imaging

Status

Published

Research group

  • Medical Radiation Physics, Malmö
  • Radiology Diagnostics, Malmö

ISBN/ISSN/Other

  • ISSN: 1748-880X