Evaluation of soft-tissue foreign bodies: comparing conventional plain film radiography, computed radiography printed on film, and computed radiography displayed on a computer workstation.

OBJECTIVE The study was performed to evaluate detection of soft-tissue foreign bodies using conventional radiography (film-screen radiography), computed radiography printed on films (computed radiography-hard copy), and computed radiography displayed on a computer workstation (computed radiography-soft copy). SUBJECTS AND METHODS Fifteen foreign bodies of different size, shape, and composition were implanted at different locations in a fresh cadaveric hand, and images were obtained using three radiographic techniques. Images were evaluated by four board-certified radiologists to ascertain the conspicuity of the foreign bodies with the different techniques. A subjective grade was assigned to each image in an attempt to identify the relative conspicuity of foreign bodies when imaged with the three techniques. RESULTS Computed radiography-soft copy is the preferred imaging technique for the detection of wood and plastic foreign bodies in soft tissue regardless of the size of the wood or the plastic. No significant differences in conspicuity among the three techniques were demonstrated with glass foreign bodies. CONCLUSION Detection of soft-tissue foreign bodies is best done using computed radiography-soft copy instead of film-screen radiography and computed radiography-hard copy imaging.