Detection of monitoring materials on bedside chest radiographs with the most recent generation of storage phosphor plates: dose increase does not improve detection performance.
OBJECTIVE
To evaluate the performance of the most recent generation of storage phosphor plates for the detection of low-contrast catheter material on bedside chest radiographs.


METHODS
In 10 patients in the intensive care unit, bedside chest radiographs were obtained with a 400-speed conventional screen-film system and with storage phosphor plates with exposure levels comparable to a 200-, 400-, or 800-speed conventional system. The chest radiograph was divided into 20 regions, 60% of which were superimposed with low-contrast catheter fragments. Six observers independently assessed the presence of catheter fragments by using a receiver operating characteristic (ROC) methodology.


RESULTS
Detection performance (mean area under the ROC curve [Az]) with the storage phosphor plates was significantly superior to that with the screen-film system (Az = 0.76) at all three dose levels (Az = 0.88, 0.87, and 0.83 for 200-, 400-, and 800-speed doses, respectively; P <.05). Increasing the dose to a 200-speed system did not significantly increase detection performance compared with that with the 400-speed digital radiographs (Az = 0.88 vs 0.87). Dose reduction to 800 speed significantly deteriorated the detection performance (Az = 0.83) compared with that with the 400- and 200-speed digital radiographs, respectively.


CONCLUSIONS
The most recent generation of storage phosphor plates is superior to a 400-speed screen-film system for the detection of catheter material, even at an exposure level of 800 speed.
Eisenhuber
Edith
E
Department of Radiology and Ludwig Boltzmann-Institute for Clinical and Experimental Radiologic Research, University of Vienna, Währinger Gürtel 18-20, A-1090 Vienna, Austria. edith.eisenhuber@univie.ac.at
Stadler
Alfred
A
Prokop
Mathias
M
Fuchsjager
Michael
M
Weber
Michael
M
Schaefer-Prokop
Cornelia
C
D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D004307:Dose-Response Relationship, Radiation; D004867:Equipment Design; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D019095:Point-of-Care Systems; D011856:Radiographic Image Enhancement; D013902:Radiography, Thoracic / Q000379:methods / Q000592:standards*; D011873:Radiology Information Systems; D014963:X-Ray Intensifying Screens