Accuracy of digital radiography using stimulable phosphor for diagnosis of pneumothorax

To evaluate the efficacy of digitized radiography in diagnosing pneumothorax 78 patients were examined with both the conventional film-screen technique and digital radiography. Of these 78 examinations 40 were normal and in 38 a pneumothorax was found. Four observers with different experience reviewed the films. In an ROC analysis no significant differences were found between the two systems. Between the observers, however, there were slight differences, one of them showing significantly lower specificity.