Pelvic imaging with a selenium-based detector (Thoravision). Comparison with screen-film radiography in 75 patients.
OBJECTIVE
To evaluate whether the selenium detector (Thoravision) provides sufficient diagnostic confidence in digital pelvic imaging compared with a conventional screen-film combination.


METHODS
In 75 patients, pelvic imaging with conventional screen-film and isodose selenium radiography using a dedicated postprocessing mode was compared independently by three radiologists. The depiction of cortical and cancellous bone was evaluated in the iliac wings, sacral and pubic bones, acetabulum, femoral head, and trochanter. Demarcation of soft tissue was assessed in the iliac and trochanteric region.


RESULTS
Visualization of cortical bone and soft tissue in the iliac area as well as soft tissue and cortical and cancellous bone in the trochanteric region was significantly superior with the selenium detector. However, conventional imaging was better in the trabecular bone of the sacral region, where results with the selenium system were particularly poor.


CONCLUSIONS
The selenium detector (Thoravision) is advantageous in imaging soft tissue adjacent to the iliac wings and the trochanter, but results for the cancellous sacral bone are poor. Further modifications of postprocessing modes may lead to improved depiction of this critical pelvic area.
Winterer
J T
JT
Department of Diagnostic Radiology, University Hospital Freiburg, Germany.
Kotter
E
E
Einert
A
A
Gimpel
S
S
Neumann
K
K
Laubenberger
J
J
Uhrmeister
P
P
Langer
M
M
D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D016477:Artifacts; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D015588:Observer Variation; D010388:Pelvis / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging*; D011856:Radiographic Image Enhancement / Q000379:methods*; D015203:Reproducibility of Results; D012643:Selenium; D014962:X-Ray Film
D012643:Selenium