Diagnostic value of portable handheld digital radiography in a beagle model of thoracic trauma

PURPOSE: To assess the diagnostic value of portable handheld digital radiography (DR) in a beagle model of thoracic trauma. METHODS: rib). All animals underwent three imaging examinations in a randomized order: conventional chest X-ray, mobile DR, and portable handheld DR. Detection rates (using surgical outcomes as the gold standard), image quality, and total examination time (from positioning to image acquisition) were compared among the three modalities. RESULTS: < 0.05). CONCLUSION: Portable handheld DR provides detection rates comparable with mobile DR and conventional chest X-ray for thoracic trauma, with the advantages of superior image quality over conventional chest X-ray and the shortest examination time. Its user-friendly operation and high portability make it a valuable tool for emergency imaging in austere environments. CLINICAL SIGNIFICANCE: Based on diagnostic results in a beagle model of thoracic trauma, this study demonstrates that portable handheld DR can provide reliable methodological support for real-time imaging and rapid triage in harsh environments such as field and post-disaster settings.