Digital selenium radiography: anti-scatter grid for chest radiography in a clinical study

The purpose of this study was to evaluate the diagnostic performance of an additional stationary anti-scatter grid in digital selenium radiography (DSR) compared with images acquired with only an air gap. Chest radiographs were obtained with DSR in 100 patients with and without an anti-scatter grid. Four observers scored 12 anatomical landmarks, catheters and wire cerclages for their visualization in both subsets of images. Statistical analysis was performed using a paired t-test. Anatomical landmarks, catheters and wire cerclages were statistically better visualized in regions of high attenuation when the images were performed with an anti-scatter grid. No statistically significant difference was noted for peripheral regions, nor for sex and weight of the patient between the two modalities. Therefore, an anti-scatter grid is not recommended for chest radiography as it increases the radiation exposure of patients without having a significant impact on visualization for all regions of the chest.