One-shot dual-energy subtraction chest imaging with computed radiography: clinical evaluation of film images.

A clinical evaluation of one-shot dual-energy subtraction chest imaging by means of computed radiography (CR) with imaging plates was carried out in a comparison with the original plain CR images. In analyses of chest images of 140 patients, new information, not detected on the original plain CR images, was obtained on subtraction images in 21 patients (15%). Receiver operating characteristic curve studies also verified the superiority of CR subtraction over the original plain CR images for the detection of pulmonary nodules, calcification in a nodule, and rib lesions. Subtraction images complemented the original plain images.