title: Digital radiography with photostimulable storage phosphors. Control of detector latitude in chest imaging.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  A widely used digital radiography system based on a photostimulable storage phosphor (PSP) detector was analyzed with regard to radiographic contrast changes that result from the adjustment of detector latitude (x-ray sensitivity range) in the normal processing of chest images.
  
  
  METHODS
  Images of an acrylic step wedge were acquired using the digital system in a mode that permitted direct control of effective detector latitude. The images were post-processed in conditions duplicating those used for portable chest examinations, and contrast was measured.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Increases in effective detector latitude provided only marginal radiographic contrast gains in the subdiaphragm-equivalent areas of the laser-printed digital film image, while causing large reductions in radiographic contrast in the lung-equivalent region.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Detector latitude is an important variable that should be monitored or controlled in investigations that compare reader performance using conventional and digital systems.
authors.affiliation: Department of Radiology, Duke University Medical Center, Durham, North Carolina 27710.
authors.forename: H G
authors.initials: HG
authors.lastname: Chotas
authors.forename: C E
authors.initials: CE
authors.lastname: Ravin
mesh_terms: D006801:Humans; D007091:Image Processing, Computer-Assisted; D011856:Radiographic Image Enhancement; D013902:Radiography, Thoracic