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Influence of the characteristic curve on the clinical image quality of lumbar spine and chest radiographs.

Tingberg, Anders LU ; Herrmann, C ; Lanhede, B ; Almén, A ; Sandborg, M ; McVey, G ; Mattsson, Sören LU ; Panzer, W ; Besjakov, Jack LU and Månsson, L G , et al. (2004) In British Journal of Radiology 77(915). p.204-215
Abstract
The "European Guidelines on Quality Criteria for Diagnostic Radiographic Images" do not address the choice of the film characteristic (H&D) curve, which is an important parameter for the description of a radiographic screen–film system. The image contrast of clinical lumbar spine and chest radiographs was altered by digital image processing techniques, simulating images with different H&D curves, both steeper and flatter than the original. The manipulated images were printed on film for evaluation. Seven experienced radiologists evaluated the clinical image quality by analysing the fulfilment of the European Image Criteria (ICS) and by visual grading analysis (VGA) of in total 224 lumbar spine and 360 chest images. A parallel study... (More)
The "European Guidelines on Quality Criteria for Diagnostic Radiographic Images" do not address the choice of the film characteristic (H&D) curve, which is an important parameter for the description of a radiographic screen–film system. The image contrast of clinical lumbar spine and chest radiographs was altered by digital image processing techniques, simulating images with different H&D curves, both steeper and flatter than the original. The manipulated images were printed on film for evaluation. Seven experienced radiologists evaluated the clinical image quality by analysing the fulfilment of the European Image Criteria (ICS) and by visual grading analysis (VGA) of in total 224 lumbar spine and 360 chest images. A parallel study of the effect of the H&D curve has also been made using a theoretical model. The contrast ({Delta}OD) of relevant anatomical details was calculated, using a Monte Carlo simulation-model of the complete imaging system including a 3D voxel phantom of a patient. Correlations between the calculated contrast and the radiologists' assessment by VGA were sought. The results of the radiologists' assessment show that the quality in selected regions of lumbar spine and chest images can be significantly improved by the use of films with a steeper H&D curve compared with the standard latitude film. Significant (p<0.05) correlations were found between the VGA results and the calculations of the contrast of transverse processes and trabecular details in the lumbar spine vertebrae, and with the contrast of blood vessels in the retrocardiac area of the chest. (Less)
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organization
publishing date
type
Contribution to journal
publication status
published
subject
in
British Journal of Radiology
volume
77
issue
915
pages
204 - 215
publisher
British Institute of Radiology
external identifiers
  • wos:000220502600005
  • pmid:15020361
  • scopus:12144290419
ISSN
1748-880X
DOI
10.1259/bjr/22642890
language
English
LU publication?
yes
id
ae4a6e67-138d-4b2d-92f6-55a5a1840453 (old id 121250)
date added to LUP
2016-04-01 16:20:48
date last changed
2022-01-28 19:01:25
@article{ae4a6e67-138d-4b2d-92f6-55a5a1840453,
  abstract     = {{The "European Guidelines on Quality Criteria for Diagnostic Radiographic Images" do not address the choice of the film characteristic (H&amp;D) curve, which is an important parameter for the description of a radiographic screen–film system. The image contrast of clinical lumbar spine and chest radiographs was altered by digital image processing techniques, simulating images with different H&amp;D curves, both steeper and flatter than the original. The manipulated images were printed on film for evaluation. Seven experienced radiologists evaluated the clinical image quality by analysing the fulfilment of the European Image Criteria (ICS) and by visual grading analysis (VGA) of in total 224 lumbar spine and 360 chest images. A parallel study of the effect of the H&amp;D curve has also been made using a theoretical model. The contrast ({Delta}OD) of relevant anatomical details was calculated, using a Monte Carlo simulation-model of the complete imaging system including a 3D voxel phantom of a patient. Correlations between the calculated contrast and the radiologists' assessment by VGA were sought. The results of the radiologists' assessment show that the quality in selected regions of lumbar spine and chest images can be significantly improved by the use of films with a steeper H&amp;D curve compared with the standard latitude film. Significant (p&lt;0.05) correlations were found between the VGA results and the calculations of the contrast of transverse processes and trabecular details in the lumbar spine vertebrae, and with the contrast of blood vessels in the retrocardiac area of the chest.}},
  author       = {{Tingberg, Anders and Herrmann, C and Lanhede, B and Almén, A and Sandborg, M and McVey, G and Mattsson, Sören and Panzer, W and Besjakov, Jack and Månsson, L G and Kheddache, S and Alm Carlsson, G and Dance, D R and Tylén, U and Zankl, M}},
  issn         = {{1748-880X}},
  language     = {{eng}},
  number       = {{915}},
  pages        = {{204--215}},
  publisher    = {{British Institute of Radiology}},
  series       = {{British Journal of Radiology}},
  title        = {{Influence of the characteristic curve on the clinical image quality of lumbar spine and chest radiographs.}},
  url          = {{http://dx.doi.org/10.1259/bjr/22642890}},
  doi          = {{10.1259/bjr/22642890}},
  volume       = {{77}},
  year         = {{2004}},
}