[Digital thoracic radiography--a comparison of digital and analog imaging techniques]

New analog and digital imaging techniques for the chest became available in recent years. In this study conventional film/screen radiography was compared with slit technique ('AMBER'), storage phosphor radiography and digital image intensifier radiography by phantom exposures and patient examinations. Because of its low spatial resolution, quality of digital image intensifier radiography was insufficient for chest imaging. The slit technique demonstrated the highest image quality, especially in the fields of the mediastinum and the thoracic wall. In comparison to conventional film/screen radiography, storage phosphor radiography had advantages in the mediastinal field. Digital techniques are connected to new possibilities of image post-processing, storage and transfer. For difficult conditions of exposure (emergency unit) over- or underexposed images can be avoided by these new digital techniques. The combination of slit- and storage phosphor-technique did not increase image quality.