Superimposed peripheral pulmonary vasculature in anthropomorphic chest phantoms.
OBJECTIVE
Comparative radiologic studies often involve the use of phantoms. However, in most chest phantoms, the lack of sufficient peripheral vessels results in unrealistic images. This can impair the reliability of conclusions drawn from the studies performed. The authors present a method of improving the simulation of the peripheral pulmonary vasculature in anthropomorphic chest phantoms.


METHODS
The appearance of peripheral vessels was simulated using red lead painted on transparent foils. Several of the foils were taped to the back of the phantom to give the impression of superimposed blood vessels.


RESULTS
Subjectively, a more realistic appearance of peripheral vasculature was obtained in the radiograph.


CONCLUSIONS
Our method improves the quality of widely available anthropomorphic chest phantoms, and the modification is easily implemented. However, the use of lead limits the modified phantom to comparative studies with constant exposure voltage.
Department of Diagnostic Radiology, University Hospital Leiden, The Netherlands.
M P
MP
van Proosdij
L J
LJ
Schultze Kool
J W
JW
Oestmann
D006801:Humans; D008168:Lung / Q000098:blood supply* / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging*; D008961:Models, Structural; D011859:Radiography