Diagnostic quality of X-ray films digitised using conventional digital cameras

As more electronic means are used in the medical sector, digitisation of film based modalities has become common. Usually, expensive digitisers are used. This paper reports a study conducted to determine if commercial digital cameras can be used as a cost effective means for digitisation of X-ray films, while maintaining the same diagnostic quality as the costly digitisers. Selections out of more than 150 models of commercial digital cameras available in the market were made based on resolution, resolving power, and linearity. Diagnostic tests conducted on digitised X-ray images of the chest, hip, skull, and extremities, by a group of radiologists, show that in more than 80% of the cases, there is no diagnostic difference between X-ray films digitised with a conventional digital camera, as opposed to a purpose made digitiser. Cost savings gained through this solution could be significant as the costs incurred by digitisers are approximately 15–25 times that of good digital cameras.7 page(s