[Experiences with digital luminescence radiography (DLR) in pediatric radiology]

X-ray examinations represent a variety of indications with different demands on exposure latitude, spatial and contrast resolution of screen-film-system combinations in paediatric radiography. The value of digital luminescent radiography (DLR) was compared to conventional x-ray examinations carried out with screen-film-systems, speed class 200, by analysing matched digital and conventional exposures in 200 abdominal, 600 skeletal and 300 chest examinations. The exposure of DLR was reduced to 50% of conventional exposure. Analysing the results in abdominal and skeletal radiography, DLR proved to be diagnostically equivalent to conventional radiography despite the reduction in exposure dose. DLR of the newborn chest compared to conventional x-ray studies was not always sufficient due to lower digital spatial resolution.