title: THORACIC SPINE IMAGING: A COMPARISON BETWEEN RADIOGRAPHY AND TOMOSYNTHESIS USING VISUAL GRADING CHARACTERISTICS.
abstract: The aim of the present study was to evaluate digital tomosynthesis (DTS) in thoracic spine imaging, comparing the reproduction of anatomical structures with that achieved using digital radiography (DR). In a prospective visual grading study, 23 patients referred in 2014 for elective radiographic examination of the thoracic spine were examined using lateral DR and DTS. The DR image and the DTS section images were read in random order by four radiologists, evaluating the ability of the modalities to present a clear reproduction of nine specific relevant structures of the thoracic vertebrae 3, 6 and 9 (T3, T6 and T9). The data were analysed using visual grading characteristics (VGC) analysis. The VGC analysis revealed a statistically significant difference in favour of DTS for all evaluated structures, except for the anterior vertebral edges and lower end plate surfaces of T6 and T9 and the cancellous bone of T9. The difference was most striking in T3 and for posterior structures. For no structure in any vertebra was the reproduction rated significantly better for DR. In conclusion, DTS of the thoracic spine appears to be a promising alternative to DR, especially in areas where the problem of overlaying anatomy is accentuated, such as posterior and upper thoracic structures.
authors: Department of Radiology, Sahlgrenska University Hospital, SE-413 45 Gothenburg, Sweden erik.ceder@vgregion.se.
authors: Erik
authors: E
authors: Ceder
authors: Department of Radiology, Sahlgrenska University Hospital, SE-413 45 Gothenburg, Sweden.
authors: Barbro
authors: B
authors: Danielson
authors: Department of Radiology, Sahlgrenska University Hospital, SE-413 45 Gothenburg, Sweden.
authors: Peter
authors: P
authors: Kovàč
authors: Department of Radiology, Sahlgrenska University Hospital, SE-413 45 Gothenburg, Sweden.
authors: Hanna
authors: H
authors: Fogel
authors: Department of Radiation Physics, Institute of Clinical Sciences, Sahlgrenska Academy at University of Gothenburg, SE-413 45 Gothenburg, Sweden Department of Medical Physics and Biomedical Engineering, Sahlgrenska University Hospital, SE-413 45 Gothenburg, Sweden.
authors: Angelica
authors: A
authors: Svalkvist
authors: Department of Radiology, Sahlgrenska University Hospital, SE-413 45 Gothenburg, Sweden Department of Radiology, Institute of Clinical Sciences, Sahlgrenska Academy at University of Gothenburg, SE-413 45 Gothenburg, Sweden.
authors: Jenny
authors: J
authors: Vikgren
authors: Department of Radiation Physics, Institute of Clinical Sciences, Sahlgrenska Academy at University of Gothenburg, SE-413 45 Gothenburg, Sweden Department of Medical Physics and Biomedical Engineering, Sahlgrenska University Hospital, SE-413 45 Gothenburg, Sweden.
authors: Magnus
authors: M
authors: Båth
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D015588:Observer Variation; D011446:Prospective Studies; D011856:Radiographic Image Enhancement / Q000379:methods*; D011857:Radiographic Image Interpretation, Computer-Assisted; D011859:Radiography / Q000379:methods*; D012984:Software; D013904:Thoracic Vertebrae / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging*; D035441:Thoracic Wall / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging*; D014057:Tomography, X-Ray Computed / Q000379:methods*; D055815:Young Adult