Digital Tomosynthesis: Applications in General Radiography.
Digital tomosynthesis is a novel imaging modality that has yet to
be adopted widespread in Australia, but has potential to enhance patient outcomes both in diagnosis and reducing radiation dose. A review of the literature was performed to develop an introduction
to digital tomosynthesis, and identify its uses and viability in general radiography.
Scopus, Ovid, MEDLINE and PubMed were utilised initially to identify literature published within 5-years, using several search terms linked with AND and OR.
Articles were assessed according to specific guidelines, and categorised. Journal databases, medical imaging vendor websites, and article references were also evaluated for relevant information.
Based on tomography, digital tomosynthesis is offered as an add-on to general radiographic equipment from general electric, ShimadzuTM and Fujifilm. It’s technology involves a sweep of the X-ray tube over a limited angle onto a stationary flat panel detector.
The data is reconstructed to produce multiple slices in the acquisition plane, providing limited depth resolution in a radiographic setting, at a substantially lower dose to computerized tomography examinations.
It’s use has been highlighted in orthopaedic imaging, in detecting occult fractures when radiography has ambiguous results. Additional uses are mainly in surveillance; digital tomosynthesis has higher sensitivity and similar specificity to radiography, and thus can be used to monitor solid lung nodules, nephrolithiasis and deterioration of arthritic conditions.
Radiol Open J. 2020; 4(1): 23-29. doi: 10.17140/ROJ-4-128