title: A conceptual optimisation strategy for radiography in a digital environment.
abstract: Using a completely digital environment for the entire imaging process leads to new possibilities for optimisation of radiography since many restrictions of screen/film systems, such as the small dynamic range and the lack of possibilities for image processing, do not apply any longer. However, at the same time these new possibilities lead to a more complicated optimisation process, since more freedom is given to alter parameters. This paper focuses on describing an optimisation strategy that concentrates on taking advantage of the conceptual differences between digital systems and screen/film systems. The strategy can be summarised as: (a) always include the anatomical background during the optimisation, (b) perform all comparisons at a constant effective dose and (c) separate the image display stage from the image collection stage. A three-step process is proposed where the optimal setting of the technique parameters is determined at first, followed by an optimisation of the image processing. In the final step the optimal dose level-given the optimal settings of the image collection and image display stages-is determined.
authors.affiliation: Department of Medical Physics and Biomedical Engineering, Sahlgrenska University Hospital, SE-413 45 Göteborg, Sweden. magnus.bath@vgregion.se
authors.forename: Magnus
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Båth
authors.forename: Markus
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Håkansson
authors.forename: Jonny
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Hansson
authors.forename: Lars Gunnar
authors.initials: LG
authors.lastname: Månsson
mesh_terms: D003201:Computers; D006801:Humans; D007091:Image Processing, Computer-Assisted; D012372:ROC Curve; D011856:Radiographic Image Enhancement; D011857:Radiographic Image Interpretation, Computer-Assisted / Q000379:methods*; D011859:Radiography / Q000295:instrumentation* / Q000379:methods*; D013902:Radiography, Thoracic; D011873:Radiology Information Systems; D012984:Software; D014963:X-Ray Intensifying Screens