Distributions of scatter-to-primary ratios in chest PA radiography using grid or air gap for scatter-rejection

The aim for this work was to calculate distributions of scatter-to-primary ratios (es/ep) and signal-to-noise ratios per pixel (SNRp) for a large set of imaging systems with either grid or air gap for scatter rejection. Grids with ratio 8-16 and air gap length 20 and 40 cm were used. The tube voltage was varied between 90-150 kV and three patient thickness between 20-28 cm were tested in order to compare scatter-rejections techniques for different conditions. Distributions of this sort may provide useful information on how physical image quality (contrast, SNR) is distributed over the chest PA image. A Monte Carlo computer program was used for the calculations, including a model of both the patient (voxel phantom) and the imaging system. The mean value of the es/ep is 0.39 in the hilar region and 1.72 in the lower mediastinal region. For a 28 cm patient, the corresponding values are 0.42 in the hilar region and 2.58 in the lower mediastinal region. The grid with ratio 16 is the most efficient scatter rejection technique in all regions except the hilar region. In the hilar region, the most efficient technique is the 40 cm air gap.