title: Evaluation of the new Statscan radiography device for ventriculoperitoneal shunt assessment.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  We assessed the diagnostic accuracy and time effectiveness of the Statscan low-dose full-body digital x-ray machine in the evaluation of ventriculoperitoneal (VP) shunt dysfunction.
  
  
  METHODS
  Twenty-five consecutive adults scheduled for a radiographic shunt series with the Statscan were prospectively selected (group 1). Another 21 consecutive patients who underwent conventional x-ray scanning served as controls (group 2) for blinded analysis.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Image quality was sufficient for diagnosis in both groups (95.6% vs 95.1%). The quality of VP shunt delineation and contrast of anatomic structures was good or optimal in both groups (p > 0.05). The scan time was significantly lower for group 1 (p < 0.001). All images for group 2 exhibited overlapping of anatomic structures (25% of total coverage), whereas no technically determined overlapping occurred in group 1.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  The Statscan digital x-ray machine allows accurate assessment of VP shunt continuity at lower radiation dosages and in less time than conventional x-ray techniques.
authors.affiliation: Department of Neurosurgery, University Hospital of Bern, Switzerland.
authors.forename: Ali-Reza
authors.initials: AR
authors.lastname: Fathi
authors.forename: Luigi
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Mariani
authors.forename: Zsolt
authors.initials: Z
authors.lastname: Szucs Farkas
authors.forename: Aristomenis-Konstantinos
authors.initials: AK
authors.lastname: Exadaktylos
authors.forename: Harald Marcel
authors.initials: HM
authors.lastname: Bonel
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D016022:Case-Control Studies; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D011446:Prospective Studies; D011856:Radiographic Image Enhancement / Q000295:instrumentation*; D017287:Ventriculoperitoneal Shunt; D051598:Whole Body Imaging / Q000295:instrumentation*