[Radiography of the thorax with phospholuminescent screens]

Image digitalization can be performed in several ways: equalization of the x-ray beam (Scanning Equalization Radiography and Advanced Multiple-Beam Equalization Radiography), digital fluorography, use of linear computed tomography detectors, digitalization of radiographic films and memory screens. Phospholuminescent screens use an x-ray receptor which is able to store the x-ray energy. This latent energy is then extracted and can be processed to obtain images with matrices ranging between 1,760 x 2,140 and 1,770 x 2,370. Several types of image processing systems can be used depending on the pathology investigated. The blurred mask substraction method is the most widely used. The first clinical results demonstrate a reduction in patient irradiation and performances equal to or better than those of standard x-rays.