[Double-contrast enema. Study of the mucosal pattern and the organ profile with conventional and digital methods].
A solid state digital system (FCR 101) was employed in our comparative evaluation of the image quality of conventional versus digital techniques in the study of colon by means of double-contrast enema. Sixty patients were examined with a single AP view, using digital radiography with 100% radiation dose and progressive 50% and 75% reductions; the radiographs thus obtained were then compared with the corresponding conventional ones. The examined parameters were organ profile and mucosal pattern. Each digital and conventional radiograph was evaluated by 2 independent radiologists and a value was given to each parameter i.e., 1 = good, 2 = sufficient, 3 = insufficient. Upon comparison of the average values obtained for digital and conventional radiographs in optimal conditions and with a dose reduced by 50%, the digital technique was seen to give a more detailed and accurate representation of both low-contrast mucosal pattern and of organ profile. With the dose reduced by 75%, a slight increase was observed in background noise which caused a slight loss in image definition, but this did not reduce image readability with respect to conventional radiographs. To conclude, the digital method with a 50% exposure reduction is to be preferred in the examination of the colon, especially in pediatric radiology; furthermore, since this technique allows better detailing at lower contrast, it is to be preferred in the study of the pathologic conditions affecting mainly/only the mucosal pattern--e.g., cancer, ulcerative colitis, Crohn's disease, and so on. An exposure dose reduced by 75% may be used for following lesions previously diagnosed and when a less detailed depiction of the mucosal pattern is enough.
Perri
G
G
Istituto di Radiologia, Università degli Studi, Pisa.
Palla
L
L
Battolla
L
L
Tagliagambe
A
A
D'Alessandro
F
F
Torri
T
T
Benocci
G
G
Lambruschi
G
G
Napoli
V
V
Barbieri
L
L
D000328:Adult; D003106:Colon / Q000033:anatomy & histology / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging*; D004733:Enema / Q000379:methods*; D006801:Humans; D007413:Intestinal Mucosa / Q000033:anatomy & histology / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging*; D008875:Middle Aged; D011856:Radiographic Image Enhancement
Clisma a doppio contrasto. Studio del disegno mucoso e del profilo d'organo con le metodiche tradizionale e digitale.