title: Digital image composition in long-leg radiography with a flat-panel detector: first clinical experiences.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  The purpose of this study was to evaluate the image quality of composed long-leg examinations with a large-area, flat-panel x-ray detector.
  
  
  METHODS
  Thirty-five consecutive patients were included in this study. All images were obtained with a kilovoltage setting identical with conventional radiographies of speed class 400; amperage values were reduced by 50% compared with standard dose. After acquisition, the images were transferred to a workstation where the whole image was reconstructed using a generalized correlation method. Images were presented to 3 observers. Examination quality was ranked on a 3-point scale: 1 = no manual adjustment necessary; 2 = composition required manual correction; 3 = no composition possible.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Patient rankings were 31/35 (88.6%) in category 1, 3/35 (8.6%) in category 2, and 1/35 (2.8%) in category 3 (primarily due to an application error).
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  The analysis of the first clinical examinations of long-leg radiographies with a 43 cm x 43 cm flat-panel detector demonstrates very good reliability of the digital image composition.
authors.affiliation: Department of Diagnostic Radiology. University Hospital of Regensburg, Germany. markus.voelk@klinik.uni-regensburg.de
authors.forename: Marcus
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Völk
authors.forename: Peter
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Angele
authors.forename: Okka
authors.initials: O
authors.lastname: Hamer
authors.forename: Stefan
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Feuerbach
authors.forename: Michael
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Strotzer
mesh_terms: D002586:Cesium; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007454:Iodides; D007867:Leg Bones / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging*; D008297:Male; D011856:Radiographic Image Enhancement / Q000295:instrumentation*; D012825:Silicon
chemical_list: D007454:Iodides; D002586:Cesium; C040050:cesium iodide; D012825:Silicon