[The potentials of digital image-intensifier radiography exemplified by digital spot imaging (DSI)].

PURPOSE

We performed a comparative study of digitally and conventionally acquired images in gastrointestinal examinations.

MATERIAL AND METHODS

Radiation dose and spatial resolution were determined in a water phantom. In 676 examinations with either conventional or digital imaging (system: Diagnost 76, DSI) the number of images and the duration of the fluoroscopy time were compared. 101 examinations with digital as well as conventional documentation were evaluated by using 5 criteria describing the diagnostic performance.

RESULTS

The entrance dose of the DSI is 12% to 36% of the film/screen system and the spatial resolution of the DSI may be better than that of a film/screen system with a speed of 200. The fluoroscopy time shows no significant difference between DSI and the film/screen technique. In 2 of 4 examination modes significantly more images were produced by the DSI. With exception of the criterion of edge sharpness, DSI yields a significantly inferior assessment compared with the film/screen technique.

CONCLUSION

The DSI system was well integrated in the daily routine of gastrointestinal examinations. Low dose imaging, direct availability of images and dynamic studies with a frame rate up to 8 images per second are the advantages of the DSI. The lower spatial resolution in some cases is a diagnostic disadvantage that can reduce the diagnostic information.