Korean Journal of Veterinary Research (대한수의학회지)

The Korean Society of Veterinary Science (대한수의학회)
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Image quality assessments of focal spot size on radiographic images in dogs

  • Park, Sujin (Department of Veterinary Medical Imaging, College of Veterinary Medicine and Institute of Animal Medicine, Gyeongsang National University) ;
  • Hwang, Tae Sung (Department of Veterinary Medical Imaging, College of Veterinary Medicine and Institute of Animal Medicine, Gyeongsang National University) ;
  • Lee, Hee Chun (Department of Veterinary Medical Imaging, College of Veterinary Medicine and Institute of Animal Medicine, Gyeongsang National University)
  • Received : 2021.11.18
  • Accepted : 2022.02.14
  • Published : 2022.03.31
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Abstract

The aim of this prospective study was to investigate the effects of focal spot size of X-ray tube on sharpness of clinical radiographic images of dogs and cats. Radiographic images of 24 stifle joints, 15 carpi, 18 lumbar spines, 61 thoraxes, and 47 abdomens of 102 dogs and 4 cats were obtained in the present study, using 2 X-ray tubes with nominal focal spots of 2.0 mm and 0.6 mm, respectively. The sharpness of specific anatomical structures in all the images of 5 projections was assessed. The radiographic sharpness of various anatomical structures of lumbar spine and cortex of stifle with fine focal spot was increased significantly compared with broad focal spot images. In addition, the blurred motion was significantly higher in the fine focal spot images of thorax. In conclusion, our study suggests that a selective use of fine foci for imaging of lumbar spine or cortex of stifle enhanced radiographic sharpness.

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References

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