Advances in Digital Chest Radiography: Dual Energy, CAD, and Digital Tomosynthesis

While recent advances in radiologic imaging have focused on CT and MRI technology, progress in digital radiographic techniques has also had significant impact on our ability to evaluate cardiothoracic disease. A number of publications have established the improved image quality of digital imaging systems over conventional film techniques [1]. While image quality has clearly improved with digital techniques, further research has established the superiority of digital radiography (DR) over computer radiography (CR) while significantly decreasing radiation dose. The flat panel detector technology central to DR technology promises further advances in imaging of heart and lung disease. One of the most exciting of these emerging technologies is dual energy subtraction radiography.