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Observer evaluation of scatter subtraction for digital portable chest radiographs
1Department of Radiology, Duke University Medical Center, Durham, North Carolina.
Rationale And Objectives:
The authors compared standard digital portable chest radiographs (DPCXR) to scatter-subtracted DPCXR:
Methods:
Thirty DPCXR were obtained using a photostimulable phosphor digital imaging system and a posterior beam stop (PBS) technique that allowed measurement of the scatter component of the DPCXR: The scatter component was subtracted from the clinical image to form a scatter-subtracted image. Six observers recorded preference for the standard image or scatter-subtracted image for identifying five radiographic landmarks and for image quality.
Results:
A statistically significant preference was demonstrated for the scatter-subtracted images and for viewing the tracheo-bronchial tree, right paratracheal stripe, vertebral column, and support apparatus position. For unprocessed images, there was a statistically significant preference for viewing the pulmonary vasculature. No statistically significant preference was demonstrated for overall image quality.
Conclusions:
These results suggest that PBS scatter subtraction holds promise for improving visualization of structures in high-scatter regions of chest radiographs.