The Value of Stereoscopy in Mass Radiography of the Chest

Abstract

The diagnosis of disease by general radiographic methods involves two fundamental processes. The first concerns the detection of an abnormal condition and constitutes that portion of the examination in which the film is carefully scanned in an effort to discover unusual roentgen patterns. The second process concerns the identification of disease and forms that part of the examination in which the abnormal patterns, having been found, are scrutinized and their characteristics evaluated in order to establish the nature of the lesion. In these two processes, stereoscopy may be of considerable assistance. This is particularly so in the identification phase, where the localization and improved visualization of the roentgen changes afforded by stereoscopy are useful in reaching a pathological diagnosis. It is not surprising then that stereoscopy has become a well established procedure in general radiology. The situation regarding stereoscopy in mass radiography of the chest, however, is much less well defined. ...