[Selenium-based digital radiography of the cervical spine: comparison with screen-film radiography for the depiction of anatomic details].
OBJECTIVE
To compare selenium-based digital radiography with conventional screen-film radiography of the cervical spine.


METHODS
In a prospective study X-ray images of the cervical spine were obtained in 25 patients using selenium- based digital radiography and conventional screen-film radiography. All images were clinically indicated. Selenium-based digital radiography and conventional screen-film radiography were used in a randomized order. Four radiologists independently evaluated all 50 examinations for the visibility of 76 anatomic details according to a five-level confidence scale (1 = not visible, 5 = very good visibility). From the evaluation of these anatomic details scores for the upper and middle cervical spine, the cervicothoracic junction and the cervical soft tissues were calculated. The scores for selenium-based digital radiography and conventional screen-film radiography were compared using Wilcoxon's signed rank test.


RESULTS
From a total of 15,200 observations (608 per patient) the following scores were calculated for selenium-based digital radiography and for screen-film radiography, respectively: Upper cervical spine 3.88 and 3.94; middle cervical spine 4.60 and 4.48; cervico-thoracic junction 3.64 and 2.62; cervical soft tissue 4.47 and 3.46. The differences between the last two scores were statistically significant (p < 0.05).


CONCLUSIONS
The use of selenium-based digital radiography is superior to conventional screen-film radiography in the depiction of anatomic details of the cervicothoracic junction and the cervical soft tissues.
Ludwig
K
K
Institut für Klinische Radiologie, Universität Münster, Germany. lud@uni-muenster.de
Diederich
S
S
Wormanns
D
D
Link
T M
TM
Lenzen
H
H
Heindel
W
W
D002574:Cervical Vertebrae / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging*; D006801:Humans; D011856:Radiographic Image Enhancement; D012643:Selenium; D012680:Sensitivity and Specificity; D013904:Thoracic Vertebrae / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging; D014963:X-Ray Intensifying Screens
D012643:Selenium