Optimisation of imaging technique used in direct digital radiography

Abstract

The purpose of the study was to optimise the technique employed for AP shoulder andlateral cervical spine examinations following an investigation into image quality, based onclinical assessment, and effective dose, calculated from patient entrance surfacedose measurements. A study was therefore conducted in an attempt to determinewhether the increased radiation dose to the patient following the introduction of ananti-scatter grid was justified by the level of improvement in image quality. The study,involving 100 patients, was able to demonstrate that the increase in radiation dose tothe patient when using an anti-scatter grid for AP shoulder examinations is notjustified by the improved image quality. A poor level of inter-rater reliabilitybetween the consultants scoring the lateral cervical spine images prevented afirm conclusion from being reached. The fact that all images were of diagnosticquality, however, suggested that the use of the anti-scatter grid was unnecessary.Following completion of the project the hospital involved was informed of all findings.