National survey with regard to preferred image characteristics of various types of intensifying screens.

It was investigated whether the mottled image of X-ray films exposed with the aid of rare earth screens adversely affects image quality and has to be suppressed at the cost of image sharpness. Assessment (by 50 radiologists in the Netherlands) of a number of images produced by different screens showed that image mottle is not considered to reduce image quality, provided it is accompanied by good image sharpness.