Comparison of film digitization and computed radiography for quantitative analysis of lung texture

The authors are developing an automated computerized scheme to quantify interstitial diseases by using physical measure of lung textures in chest radiographs. In order to implement this scheme for practical use, the authors are investigating the effect of different digital systems on the performance of this scheme. Chest images of the same patients were obtained with conventional film and a computed radiography (CR) system. Texture measures were determined by digitization of chest radiographs with a drum scanner (0.1-mm pixel size) and laser scanner (0.175-mm pixel size), as well as from digital images with CR system (0.2mm pixel size). Receiver operating characteristic curves for detection of interstitial disease obtained with three digital system are compared together with analysis of their imaging properties