[Examination for Usefulness of Scatter Correction in Emergency Lateral Cervical Spine Radiography]
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Published on: September 16, 2022
Atsushi Ueno1, Tsuyoshi Sakou1
1Clinical Radiology Service, Miyazaki Prefectural Nobeoka Hospital.
Purpose:
This study aimed to investigate the usefulness of scatter correction in emergency lateral cervical spine radiography.
Methods:
A lead disc or an aluminum circular plate was placed on a water-equivalent phantom with a thickness of 13 cm, and radiographic images were acquired by varying the distances between the phantom and the flat panel detector (air gaps). The content rate of scattered radiation, signal-difference-to-noise ratio measured from image-processed images (SDNRIP), and contrast were evaluated for images with scatter correction technique (virtual grid images: VG images), images with a grid (real grid images: RG images), and images without a grid or scatter correction technique (WG images). Additionally, lateral cervical spine radiographs were obtained using a phantom, and paired comparison methods (contrast, granularity, sharpness, overall assessment) were performed by seven radiologic technologists.
Results:
The content rate of scattered radiations in VG images decreased with increasing air gap and became lower than in RG images at air gaps of 15 cm or more. SDNRIP and contrast for VG images were significantly higher than for RG images at air gaps of 15 cm and 20 cm (p<0.05). In the observer study, VG images were significantly superior to others in all evaluation items except granularity (p<0.05).
Conclusion:
The use of scatter correction in emergency lateral cervical spine radiography proves useful in achieving image quality superior to that of a grid.
