[The AMBER thoracic imaging system in routine diagnosis]

After installation of an Amber lung x-ray imaging system the range of application of this technique was registered for two months. Additionally the image quality for structures of the lung parenchyma and mediastinum were proved and dose measurements were performed. 50.6% (772) patients from a total of 1525 could be x-rayed by the Amber imaging system. Related to all people able to stand 73.6% from 1049 patients were examined with the Amber system. Most of the imaging figures of merit specified by the German national physician board were accomplished, besides the fact that 1/3 of the p.a. radiographs were cut off at the side because of the small size of the film. The excellent image of pleuro-mediastinal structures was proofed quantitatively by counting the pleuro-mediastinal lines and comparing the results with standard radiographs. Measuring the exposure at entrance point we obtained nearly the same values for the Amber system using a screen-film combination with a speed of 400 and conventional radiographs (40-120 mu Gy; 21 pat.).