The British Journal of Radiology, Vol 70, Issue 834 629-634, Copyright © 1997 by British Institute of Radiology

ARTICLES

Evaluation of a new ultraviolet-emitting rare-earth film-screen combination

AR Farajollahi and D Sutton
Department of Medical Physics, Ninewells Hospital and Medical School, Dundee, Tayside, UK.

The performance of a 400 speed class DuPont Ultra Vision Rapid (UVR) film-screen combination has been evaluated and compared with that of DuPont Quanta Fast Detail screens with Cronex 10L film (QFD-200 speed class). The speed was calculated from the constructed characteristic curves (H&D) at different energies. Image quality was derived objectively using the Leeds test object TOR (CDR). An anthropomorphic phantom was then employed to determine image quality subjectively by means of radiologist appraisal. Lumbar spine and chest radiography of patients were performed to evaluate the potential for dose reduction in clinical conditions by measuring skin entrance doses with thermoluminescent dosimeters (TLDs). UVR provided better resolution (9 lp mm-1 as opposed to 8 lp mm-1) and contrast response than QFD. UVR has accommodated a wider exposure latitude than might be expected with conventional 400 speed class film-screen combinations. Use of UVR resulted in better image quality than use of QFD over a wide range of exposure factors. The use of UVR can result in a dose reduction of 50% with no loss in image quality.