[New imaging methods in thoracic diagnosis. A study to evaluate digital storage screen radiography, the slit technique ("AMBER"), asymmetric ("InSight") and conventional film-screen techniques].

New methods have been introduced in recent years in chest imaging to achieve high image quality simultaneously in the mediastinum and in the lung field. In this study the clinical value is assessed for four techniques: digital storage phosphor radiography, slit-technique ("AMBER"), asymmetrical film/screen ("InSight") and conventional film/screen. 43 patients were examined with these techniques within one day. Seven readers of four universities graded the image quality according to ten criteria of the mediastinum and the lung field. The slit-technique ("AMBER") showed the best image quality in both areas. Compared to conventional film/screen, storage phosphor radiography and asymmetrical film/screen ("InSight") yield better image quality only in the mediastinum.