Keywords:
Lung, Digital radiography
Authors:
K. Vult von Steyern, I. Björkman-Burtscher, P. Höglund, G. C. Bozovic, M. Wiklund, M. Geijer; Lund/SE
DOI:
10.1594/ecr2012/B-0417
Conclusion
The tomosynthesis score had high observer agreements for the total score and subscores and correlates well with the Brasfield score for radiography.
Since tomosynthesis is more sensitive to pulmonary CF changes than radiography,
in particular bronchiectases and mucus plugging,
the total disease severity scores were generally higher for tomosynthesis than for radiography in percentage of the maximum score.
Tomosynthesis is performed on the same X-ray system as chest radiography (adding only about one minute to the normal examination time) and results approximately in a 2- to 3- fold increase in effective dose compared with radiography [6,7].
The dose from tomosynthesis is approximately 10% of the dose from CT with low dose protocols [8].
The tomosynthesis score is robust and correlates well with the Brasfield score.
Tomosynthesis is more sensitive to CF changes,
in particular to bronchiectases and mucus plugging,
compared with radiography and the radiation dose is low compared with computed tomography.
The new tomosynthesis scoring system offers the possibility of a more detailed and accurate scoring of disease severity compared with the scoring of radiographs with the Brasfield scoring system.
Tomosynthesis may become useful in the everyday clinical practice as well as in the regular follow-up of patients with CF.