Chest imaging within the radiology department by means of photostimulable phosphor computed radiography: a review.

Photostimulable phosphor computed radiography has been clinically used outside of Japan for more than 8 years. Results of at least 35 quantitative or semiquantitative studies have been published so far in which the clinical utility of computed radiography (CR) is compared with that of conventional screen/film radiography (FR) for the study of the adult chest within the radiology department. The results can be summarized as follows: CR is superior to FR in the mediastinum, retrocardiac region, and subdiaphragmatic recesses, as well as in the evaluation of coronary artery calcifications. CR is reported to be generally superior or equivalent in the detection and evaluation of pulmonary nodules and larger pulmonary opacities. Equivocal results have been reported for pathologies requiring the inspection of fine details, such as interstitial infiltrates or pneumothorax. The studies indicate that image processing algorithms dedicated to the delineation of specific anatomies or pathologies improve clinical performance.