Physical image quality vs radiation quantities in radiography of lungs infection

Abstract

The advanced digital imaging systems are producing much less noise associated radiographs. Physical image quality are becoming recognizable in replacing visual human evaluating of image quality. When radiation does shows strong correlation with image quality, one can directly control image quality using dose. Thus, this study aim to explore relationship between physical image quality (taken from real patient with lung infection) and radiation quantity (or doses) and to investigate possible reduction in radiation doses. The study used public data source of plain radiographs, that contains around 160,000 x-ray images. Then filtered them according the study aim and practicality to be used in measuring signal to noise ratio (SNR) and contrast to noise ratio (CNR). Strong relation between radiation dose and SNR was found, while CNR showed weak relationship with radiation dose. Very low SNR value was found to be suitable to produce visible image quality. The study concluded the possibility of utilizing physical image quality with possibility in reducing dose to the patients.