[Examination for Usefulness of Scatter Correction in Emergency Lateral Cervical Spine Radiography].

Abstract

Purpose: This study aimed to investigate the usefulness of scatter correction in emergency lateral cervical spine radiography.

Methods: A lead disc or an aluminum circular plate was placed on a water-equivalent phantom with a thickness of 13 cm, and radiographic images were acquired by varying the distances between the phantom and the flat panel detector (air gaps). The content rate of scattered radiation, signal-difference-to-noise ratio measured from image-processed images (SDNR_IP), and contrast were evaluated for images with scatter correction technique (virtual grid images: VG images), images with a grid (real grid images: RG images), and images without a grid or scatter correction technique (WG images). Additionally, lateral cervical spine radiographs were obtained using a phantom, and paired comparison methods (contrast, granularity, sharpness, overall assessment) were performed by seven radiologic technologists.

Results: The content rate of scattered radiations in VG images decreased with increasing air gap and became lower than in RG images at air gaps of 15 cm or more. SDNR_IP and contrast for VG images were significantly higher than for RG images at air gaps of 15 cm and 20 cm (p<0.05). In the observer study, VG images were significantly superior to others in all evaluation items except granularity (p<0.05).

Conclusion: The use of scatter correction in emergency lateral cervical spine radiography proves useful in achieving image quality superior to that of a grid.