Optical considerations in digital imaging.

The topic of optics and its effect in ultimate rendered image quality has largely been underemphasized for medical imaging systems. In actuality, adequate attention to optical issues is essential in ensuring that image quality is optimal. Generally, optical issues can be divided into two broad categories: optical interface optimization and lighting optimization. Although these issues deal with disparate aspects of optical physics, they are covered within a single article because they both apply to the common goal of generating superior medical images.