Imaging characteristics of an amorphous silicon flat-panel detector for digital chest radiography.
OBJECTIVE
To evaluate the imaging characteristics of an amorphous silicon flat-panel detector (FPD) for digital chest radiography.


METHODS
The 41 x 41-cm digital FPD is constructed on a single monolithic glass substrate with a structured cesium iodide scintillator layer and an amorphous silicon thin-film transistor array for image readout. Basic imaging characteristics of the FPD and associated image processing system were assessed on acquired images, including linearity, repeatability, uniformity of response, modulation transfer function (MTF), noise power spectrum, detective quantum efficiency (DQE), contrast sensitivity, and scatter content. Results with the FPD system were compared to those with a storage phosphor computed radiography (CR) system.


RESULTS
Images obtained with the FPD demonstrated excellent uniformity, repeatability, and linearity, as well as MTF and DQE that were superior to those with the storage phosphor CR system. The contrast and scatter content of images acquired with the FPD were equivalent to those acquired with the storage phosphor system.


CONCLUSIONS
The FPD provides radiographic images with excellent inherent physical image quality.
Department of Radiology, Digital Imaging Research Division, Duke University Medical Center, Box 3302, Room 139, Bryan Research Building, Durham, NC 27710, USA.
C E
CE
Floyd
R J
RJ
Warp
J T
JT
Dobbins
H G
HG
Chotas
A H
AH
Baydush
R
R
Vargas-Voracek
C E
CE
Ravin
D005069:Evaluation Studies as Topic; D011856:Radiographic Image Enhancement / Q000295:instrumentation*; D013902:Radiography, Thoracic / Q000295:instrumentation*