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Updated: Aug 17, 2026

Whole-body PET/MRI of Pediatric Patients: The Details That Matter
Published on: December 19, 2017
Mottle on computed radiographs of the chest in pediatric patients
W Huda1, R M Slone, C J Belden
1Department of Radiology, University of Florida College of Medicine, Gainesville 32610-0374, USA.
Purpose:
To investigate the relationship between radiation exposure and perceived mottle at bedside pediatric chest examinations performed with screen-film and computed radiographic techniques.
Materials And Methods:
In a pediatric intensive care unit, chest radiographs were obtained with both computed radiography (60 radiographs) and a 600-speed screen-film system (14 radiographs). The relative radiation exposure was estimated by using the sensitivity value obtained in the processing of each computed radiograph. Five radiologists assessed the mottle present in the computed radiographs and screen-film images.
Results:
For computed radiographs, the perceived level of mottle was inversely related to radiation exposure. For the same radiation exposure, the perceived mottle on computed radiographs was significantly higher than that on screen-film images (P < .001 for small cassettes; P < .01 for large cassettes).
Conclusion:
Pediatric computed radiography of the chest requires approximately twice the exposure of a 600-speed screen-film system to attain the same level of mottle.
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