Reduced dose and improved image quality with a computerized line-scan radiography system

Diode-array digital radiography (DADR) is a patented technology which shows promise for producing improved radiographic image quality while reducing the X-ray dose to the patient. DADR combines geometric scatter rejection with a scintillator and solid-state photodiode array detector of large dynamic range to create diagnostic X-ray images which makes efficient use of the patient dose. Engineering measurements were made to determine the basic characteristics of the system. Engineering measurements were made to determine the basic characteristics of the system. A number of image postprocessing techniques were examined for further improving the image quality of the DADR system. Unsharp masking, local contrast stretching, and modified local contrast stretching were used. The modified local contrast stretching has produced the best results to date, with image quality exceeding that of standard film/screen chest images. Images have been postprocessed using facilities of the Pittsburgh Supercomputer Center