title: Advanced multiple beam equalization radiography (AMBER) combined with computed radiography. Preliminary evaluation.
abstract: The combined use of AMBER (Advanced Multiple Beam Equalization Radiography) and a digital storage phosphor (SP) radiography system was evaluated for chest radiography in a pilot study with 4 patients. Four image modes with different dose levels were compared: the SP in combination with an AMBER equalized exposure (SP/AMBER) and 3 nonequalized exposures with dose levels corresponding to the respective calculated AMBER lung dose (SP/lung field dose), the calculated AMBER mediastinal dose (SP/mediastinal dose) and the calculated AMBER average dose (SP/average dose). All image modes were matched for Hurter and Driffield characteristics and subjectively rated according to visibility of details. The improved signal-to-noise (S/N) ratio of SP/AMBER resulted in a better visualization of structures in the mediastinum and the basal lung where SP/lung field dose scored lowest. For the central lung no quality differences were seen between techniques. The compressed dynamic range of the SP/AMBER images was more easily displayed on the hard-copy film. The combination of AMBER with SP radiography promises to overcome the dynamic range limitations of digital displays while, at moderate doses, giving better S/N and image quality than standard SP technique.
authors.affiliation: Academisch Ziekenhuis Leiden, The Netherlands.
authors.forename: T P
authors.initials: TP
authors.lastname: de Rooy
authors.forename: J W
authors.initials: JW
authors.lastname: Oestmann
authors.forename: L J
authors.initials: LJ
authors.lastname: Schultze Kool
authors.forename: H
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Vrooman
authors.forename: F
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Buchmann
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D005069:Evaluation Studies as Topic; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008163:Luminescent Measurements; D008297:Male; D008674:Metals, Rare Earth; D008875:Middle Aged; D010865:Pilot Projects; D011856:Radiographic Image Enhancement / Q000379:methods*; D013902:Radiography, Thoracic / Q000379:methods*
chemical_list: D008674:Metals, Rare Earth