[Advantage of dual-energy technique in diagnosis of chest tubercular diseases].
OBJECTIVE
X-ray radiography is the first choice for detecting chest diseases. However, "visual obstacles" caused by the overlaps between ribs and lung in chest radiography affects the observation and analysis of chest diseases. The objective of this study was to investigate the value of direct digital radiography (DR) dual-energy technique in diagnosis of chest disease located in the overlaps between ribs and lung.


METHODS
Thirty-five cases of chest tubercular diseases located in the overlaps between ribs and lung were examined using direct digital radiography (DR) dual-energy technique.


RESULTS
Ratings of dual-energy technique radiography in detecting chest tubercular diseases were 94.3% whereas the ratings of DR radiography were 45.7%. Bone and soft tissue can be separated in the radiography using dual-energy technique.


CONCLUSIONS
DR dual-energy technique not only increases the visibility towards chest tubercular disease, but also discriminates the location (ribs or lung) of chest tubercular disease.
Su
Yan-Cheng
YC
Department of Diagnostic Imaging and Interventional Center, Cancer Center, Sun Yat-sen University, Guangzhou, Guangdong, 510060, PR China. suyancheng@21cn.com
Guo
Dai-Zhu
DZ
Miao
Bi-Jian
BJ
Lin
Yu-Sheng
YS
Zhou
Xiang-Tao
XT
Huang
Li-Qi
LQ
D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D015900:Radiography, Dual-Energy Scanned Projection; D013902:Radiography, Thoracic; D013896:Thoracic Diseases / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging*