Comparison between Amorphous Selenium Flat-panel Detector Digital Radiography and Computed Radiography in Spine Imaging

Objective To compare the imaging quality and the anatomic detail in thoracolumbar spine of amorphous selenium flat-panel detector digital radiography(DR) system and computed radiography(CR) system.Methods Three radiologists analyzed 30 pairs of spinal radiographs on video monitor(2048×2560×8bit).In each pair,the radiograph was obtained with DR system and CR system respectively at the same exposure index(EI).The imaging quality and the visibility of 12 anatomic structures were evaluated using a five-point scale.Results (1)There was no difference in the imaging quality between the two system(P0.05);(2)For the visibility of 3 anatomic structures(including transverse process of L1 on P-A position,superior-inferior facet of T11 and spinal process of L1 on lateral radiography),DR was significantly superior to CR (P0.05).Conclusion The imaging quality and visibility of anatomic structures of DR were equal or superior to that of CR.