title: Correlation of contrast-detail analysis and clinical image quality assessment in chest radiography with a human cadaver study.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  To determine the correlation between the clinical and physical image quality of chest images by using cadavers embalmed with the Thiel technique and a contrast-detail phantom.
  
  
  METHODS
  The use of human cadavers fulfilled the requirements of the institutional ethics committee. Clinical image quality was assessed by using three human cadavers embalmed with the Thiel technique, which results in excellent preservation of the flexibility and plasticity of organs and tissues. As a result, lungs can be inflated during image acquisition to simulate the pulmonary anatomy seen on a chest radiograph. Both contrast-detail phantom images and chest images of the Thiel-embalmed bodies were acquired with an amorphous silicon flat-panel detector. Tube voltage (70, 81, 90, 100, 113, 125 kVp), copper filtration (0.1, 0.2, 0.3 mm Cu), and exposure settings (200, 280, 400, 560, 800 speed class) were altered to simulate different quality levels. Four experienced radiologists assessed the image quality by using a visual grading analysis (VGA) technique based on European Quality Criteria for Chest Radiology. The phantom images were scored manually and automatically with use of dedicated software, both resulting in an inverse image quality figure (IQF). Spearman rank correlations between inverse IQFs and VGA scores were calculated.
  
  
  RESULTS
  A statistically significant correlation (r = 0.80, P < .01) was observed between the VGA scores and the manually obtained inverse IQFs. Comparison of the VGA scores and the automated evaluated phantom images showed an even better correlation (r = 0.92, P < .001).
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  The results support the value of contrast-detail phantom analysis for evaluating clinical image quality in chest radiography.
authors: Department of Basic Medical Sciences, Ghent University, Proeftuinstraat 86, B-9000 Ghent, Belgium. An.decrop@ugent.be
authors: An
authors: A
authors: De Crop
authors: Klaus
authors: K
authors: Bacher
authors: Tom
authors: T
authors: Van Hoof
authors: Peter V
authors: PV
authors: Smeets
authors: Barbara S
authors: BS
authors: Smet
authors: Merel
authors: M
authors: Vergauwen
authors: Urszula
authors: U
authors: Kiendys
authors: Philippe
authors: P
authors: Duyck
authors: Koenraad
authors: K
authors: Verstraete
authors: Katharina
authors: K
authors: D'Herde
authors: Hubert
authors: H
authors: Thierens
mesh_terms: D002102:Cadaver; D016001:Confidence Intervals; D004615:Embalming / Q000379:methods; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D016018:Least-Squares Analysis; D016014:Linear Models; D008168:Lung / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging*; D008297:Male; D019047:Phantoms, Imaging; D011857:Radiographic Image Interpretation, Computer-Assisted; D013902:Radiography, Thoracic / Q000295:instrumentation / Q000379:methods*