Influence of geometric distortion and exposure parameters on sensitivity of digital subtraction radiography

In the course of digital subtraction radiography (DSR), variation in the alignment of the x-ray source object and image receptor is an undesirable but frequent problem. The influence of angulation changes between the x-ray source and object on the quality of the subtracted image was measured with the visualization of a thin chip of bone (thickness less than or equal to 0.85 mm). Twenty radiographic image pairs that differed by known geometric distortions ranging from 0 to 9 degrees horizontal and vertical were subtracted. The ability to detect a thickness change varied strongly with angular distortion. Under optimal conditions (no distortion), DSR was able to detect a change in thickness of cortical bone of 0.12 mm. Under approximately clinical circumstances (3 degree misalignment), a thickness change of 0.35 mm was detected with 50% accuracy (three of six cases), while a thickness change of 0.42 mm was detected with 100% accuracy (six of six cases). In addition, the influence of exposure parameters on DSR was investigated. Twenty-one radiographic film pairs were subtracted with differing densities and contrasts. Images made at 70 kVp with an optical density of 0.61 in the dentin produced the best subtracted images. However, even images made with one fourth the conventional exposure produced diagnostic information when analyzed with DSR; this was not seen with conventional analysis of the normally exposed radiographic films.