Mottle on computed radiographs of the chest in pediatric patients.
OBJECTIVE
To investigate the relationship between radiation exposure and perceived mottle at bedside pediatric chest examinations performed with screen-film and computed radiographic techniques.


METHODS
In a pediatric intensive care unit, chest radiographs were obtained with both computed radiography (60 radiographs) and a 600-speed screen-film system (14 radiographs). The relative radiation exposure was estimated by using the sensitivity value obtained in the processing of each computed radiograph. Five radiologists assessed the mottle present in the computed radiographs and screen-film images.


RESULTS
For computed radiographs, the perceived level of mottle was inversely related to radiation exposure. For the same radiation exposure, the perceived mottle on computed radiographs was significantly higher than that on screen-film images (P < .001 for small cassettes; P < .01 for large cassettes).


CONCLUSIONS
Pediatric computed radiography of the chest requires approximately twice the exposure of a 600-speed screen-film system to attain the same level of mottle.
Huda
W
W
Department of Radiology, University of Florida College of Medicine, Gainesville 32610-0374, USA.
Slone
R M
RM
Belden
C J
CJ
Williams
J L
JL
Cumming
W A
WA
Palmer
C K
CK
D002648:Child; D006801:Humans; D015278:Intensive Care Units, Pediatric; D011829:Radiation Dosage; D013902:Radiography, Thoracic / Q000295:instrumentation / Q000379:methods; D012189:Retrospective Studies; D014057:Tomography, X-Ray Computed / Q000379:methods*; D014963:X-Ray Intensifying Screens