The diagnostic quality of optically processed radiographs

The diagnostic quality of optically processed radiographs was compared with that of unprocessed radiographs, using the number of lesions detected as a criterion. It was found that merely removing phase-shifted information with either a binary or focal spot filter alone did not improve image quality, however, use of the focal spot filter plus removal of all phase-shifted frequencies did lead to the detection of an increased number of lesions. The authors suggest that currently available optical filtration techniques should be evaluated with caution, as they may actually degrade diagnostic quality by increasing the visibility of phase-shifted information.