Effect of crossover exposure on radiographic image quality of screen-film systems

Modulation transfer functions (MTFs), Wiener spectra, and H & D curves of conventional and anticrossover screen-film systems were measured in an evaluation of the potential clinical use of anticrossover systems. The relative speed of anticrossover (3M) systems was reduced by 40%, compared with conventional (Kodak OG) systems. The anticrossover system improved both resolution and noise properties of screen-film systems (55% improvement of MTF at 2 cycles/mm and 40% reduction of radiographic mottle at low spatial frequencies) in a way that a combination of slow, sharp screens with conventional film may not accomplish, even when the speeds of different systems are matched. Detail visibility, in phantom images and radiographs of the hand, was considerably enhanced with anticrossover film compared with that of conventional film.