Three-tier rare-earth imaging system

Journal Article · Wed Apr 01 04:00:00 EST 1981 · Am. J. Roentgenol.; (United States)

DOI:https://doi.org/10.2214/ajr.136.4.755· OSTI ID:5502270

Brodeur, A E; Silberstein, M J; Graviss, E R; Ferguson, T L; Ortmeyer, K M; Nalesnik, W J

The increased efficiency of gadolinium oxysulfide intensifying screens as compared to calcium tungstate screens depends primarily on increased absorption of x-ray photons coupled with a twofold increase in light output. Whether this increased efficiency can be effectively used in a routine diagnostic department to significantly decrease radiation dose was the subject of this study. Consecutive radiographic examinations (5,806) were conducted using these rare earth screens. Each radiographic room used three individual rare earth screen/orthochromatic film combinations in order to obtain different speeds. These were labeled A, B, and C and ranged from par speed high detail to ultra high speed with less detail but correspondingly less patient radiation exposure. The system selected for a particular examination was based on the radiologists' requirements for imaging of anatomic detail. Those examinations requiring less detailed resolution (such as bone alignment through a wet plaster cast) were assigned the fastest speed available. The use of a rare earth/3-tier system resulted in an overall reduction in radiation exposure of about 80%.

• OSTI ID: 5502270
• Journal Information: Am. J. Roentgenol.; (United States), Journal Name: Am. J. Roentgenol.; (United States) Vol. 136:4; ISSN AJROA
• Country of Publication: United States
• Language: English

Related Subjects

550602* -- Medicine-- External Radiation in Diagnostics-- (1980-)
551000 -- Physiological Systems
59 BASIC BIOLOGICAL SCIENCES
62 RADIOLOGY AND NUCLEAR MEDICINE
BIOMEDICAL RADIOGRAPHY
COMPARATIVE EVALUATIONS
DESIGN
DIAGNOSIS
DIAGNOSTIC TECHNIQUES
DIAGNOSTIC USES
DOSES
EFFICIENCY
ELECTROMAGNETIC RADIATION
ELEMENTARY PARTICLES
ELEMENTS
IMAGES
IONIZING RADIATIONS
MASSLESS PARTICLES
MEASURING METHODS
MEDICINE
METALS
NUCLEAR MEDICINE
PATIENTS
PHOTOGRAPHIC FILMS
PHOTONS
RADIATION DOSES
RADIATIONS
RADIOLOGY
RARE EARTHS
USES
X RADIATION