Radiography of scoliosis: Comparative dose levels and image quality between a dynamic flat-panel detector and a slot-scanning device (EOS system).
OBJECTIVE
To compare radiation dose and image quality between a slot-scanning system (SSS) and a dynamic flat-panel detector (DFD) in assessing scoliosis in children.


METHODS
An experimental study was first performed with a phantom to assess the quality of each device. The clinical part included a prospective observational dosimetric and qualitative comparative study with acquisition of whole-spine X-ray: SSS (31 children), DFD (26 children). Institutional review board approval and informed consent were obtained. Dosimetric statistical analysis was performed from dose area product (DAP) and entrance skin dose measured by thermo-luminescent dosimeters localized in the cervical, thoracic and sacral areas. Assessment of the diagnostic quality (phantom and clinical) was realized by independent evaluation by 3 observers, using statistical analysis of quality score and inter-observer reproducibility.


RESULTS
DAP was equivalent with the 2 systems. Entrance skin dose was significantly higher with DFD in thoracic and pelvic regions (P<0.05). Image quality scores of the SSS were significantly better than DFD for a majority of criteria, in both phantom and clinical evaluations.


CONCLUSIONS
For scoliosis evaluation, the SSS, compared to the DFD system, offers enhanced image quality while reducing the entrance skin dose in the most radiosensitive areas.
Service d'imagerie anté-natale, de l'enfant et de la femme, Hôpital Pellegrin, place Amélie-Raba-Léon, 33076 Bordeaux cedex, France.
M
M
Yvert
Institute of Public Health, Epidemiology and Development (ISPED), Université de Bordeaux, 146, rue Léo-Saignat, 33076 Bordeaux cedex, France.
A
A
Diallo
Service d'imagerie anté-natale, de l'enfant et de la femme, Hôpital Pellegrin, place Amélie-Raba-Léon, 33076 Bordeaux cedex, France.
P
P
Bessou
Institute for Radiological Protection and Nuclear Safety (IRSN), 31, avenue de la Division-Leclerc, 92260 Fontenay-aux-Roses, France.
J-L
JL
Rehel
Institute of Public Health, Epidemiology and Development (ISPED), Université de Bordeaux, 146, rue Léo-Saignat, 33076 Bordeaux cedex, France.
E
E
Lhomme
Service d'imagerie anté-natale, de l'enfant et de la femme, Hôpital Pellegrin, place Amélie-Raba-Léon, 33076 Bordeaux cedex, France; Centre de Résonance Magnétique des Systèmes Biologiques, UMR 5536, Université de Bordeaux, 146, rue Léo-Saignat, 33076 Bordeaux cedex, France. Electronic address: jean-francois.chateil@chu-bordeaux.fr.
J-F
JF
Chateil
D002648:Child; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D019047:Phantoms, Imaging; D011446:Prospective Studies; D011829:Radiation Dosage; D011859:Radiography / Q000295:instrumentation; D012600:Scoliosis / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging*
Children; Image quality enhancement; Radiation dose; Radiation protection; Scoliosis