This lecture reviews basic imaging physics concepts as applied to the description of digital images. These concepts include effects of the digitization process on spatial resolution, noise, dynamic range and latitude. Basic image descriptors (MTF, noise power spectra, DQE) should be reviewed, along with how these are applied to and affected by digital images. Particular emphasis should be placed on dynamic range/contrast/

latitude issues. Digital receptors claim very large “dynamic range”, but this does not always translate into an equally large latitude due to a desire to maximize contrast for “clinically relevant” signal ranges. The talk should discuss factors determining dynamic range (receptor response, ADC bit depth, algorithms, etc), along with examples of common approaches to deal with the contrast/latitude tradeoff.

An important aspect of clinical workflow requirements, performance specifications, and testing of radiographic and fluoroscopic systems is how they communicate with and interact with PACS. This lecture reviews those PACS concepts and DICOM components important to these tasks, including DICOM Worklist Management Service Class user (SCU), DICOM Storage SCU, DICOM Print, etc. Rather than delve into details of the DICOM standard and PACS design, the focus should remain on what attendees should know in order to assure that purchased equipment meets requirements for effective operation in a PACS environment.

This lecture will describe CR technology in greater depth. Since attendees are likely to be familiar with CR principles, and perhaps have had some hands-on experience with current CR technology, the lecture should concentrate on recent and expected future advances in CR technology (double-sided readout, high absorption efficiency phosphor materials, flat-panel CR device, etc) and how they compare in image quality, speed and clinical utility with current CR and DR detectors.

Analogous to the previous talk, this lecture will focus on flat panel DR receptors (both direct and indirect). In addition to basic principles, objectives should include theoretical and practical advantages/disadvantages and limitation in image quality (resolution, DQE, dynamic range) and clinical use in radiography and fluoroscopy.