A goal based cost-benefit analysis for film versus filmless radiology departments.

We describe the use of spreadsheet models to compare differential costs incurred in a film based versus a filmless radiology department. The spreadsheet allows a high degree of user customization to facilitate on-site cost analysis and informed purchasing decisions. Modeling institutions that perform 25, 50, and 105,000 diagnostic procedures per year, we find that break-even occurs near 50,000 exams. Plots further show the trends in annual hardware and staff costs as work loads increase.