Kenworth, D, Tugwell-Allsup, J and England, A (2021) Mobile chest imaging of neonates in incubators: Optimising DR and CR acquisitions. Radiography, 27 (1). pp. 75-80. ISSN 1532-2831

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Abstract

Introduction: Neonates are a particularly vulnerable patient group with complex medical needs requiring frequent radiographic examinations. This study aims to compare computed radiography (CR) and direct digital radiography (DDR) portable imaging systems used to acquire chest x-rays for neonates within incubators. Method: An anthropomorphic neonatal chest phantom was imaged under controlled conditions using one portable machine but captured using both CR and DDR technology. Other variables explored were: image receptor position (direct and incubator tray), tube current and kV. All other parameters were kept consistent. Contrast-to-noise ratio (CNR) was measured using ImageJ software and dose-area-product (DAP) was recorded. Optimisation score was calculated by dividing CNR with the DAP for each image acquisition. Results: The images with the highest CNR were those acquired using DDR direct exposures and the images with lowest CNR were those acquired using CR with the image receptor placed within the incubator tray. This is also supported by the optimisation scores which demonstrated DDR direct produced the optimal combination with regards to CNR and radiation dose. The CNR had a mean increase of 50.3% when comparing DDR direct with
CR direct respectively. This was also evident when comparing DDR and CR for in-tray acquisitions, with CNR increasing by a mean of 43.5%. A mean increase of 20.4% was seen in CNR when comparing DDR tray exposures to CR direct.
Conclusion: DDR direct produced images of highest CNR, with incubator tray reducing CNR for both CR and DDR. However, DDR tray still had better image quality compared to
CR direct. Implications for Practice: Where possible, DDR should be the imaging system of choice for portable examinations on neonates owing to its superior image quality at lower radiation dose.

Item Type: Article
Additional Information: The final version of this accepted article can be found online with all relevant information at; https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S1078817420300936 https://www.radiographyonline.com/article/S1078-8174(20)30093-6/fulltext
Uncontrolled Keywords: CNR, CR, DR, Incubator, Neonatal, Neonate, Radiation dose
Subjects: Q Science > Q Science (General)
R Medicine > R Medicine (General)
R Medicine > RA Public aspects of medicine
Divisions: Faculty of Medicine and Health Sciences > School of Allied Health Professions
Related URLs:
Depositing User: Symplectic
Date Deposited: 19 Jun 2020 15:12
Last Modified: 04 Jul 2021 01:30
URI: https://eprints.keele.ac.uk/id/eprint/8216

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