Single-Shot and Rotational Stitching Methods for Long-Length FPD Imaging.

PURPOSE: To evaluate geometric distortion, throughput time, and incident dose of the single-shot and rotational stitching methods to determine the potential for clinical application in long-length flat-panel detector imaging for scoliosis and lower-extremity osteoarthritis. METHODS: Three technical evaluations were performed using an anthropomorphic acrylic torso phantom in a non-weight-bearing setup. The evaluations consisted of geometric distortion, measured as apparent changes in the projected length of an x-ray ruler along the body axis; throughput time, measured in seconds from rotor initiation to completion of image acquisition; and incident dose distribution, measured at 50-mm intervals using dosimeters, with particular attention given to overlapping regions in the rotational stitching method. RESULTS: Due to geometric magnification, the total projected lengths of the physical 600-mm x-ray ruler were 612 mm for the single-shot method and 615 mm for the rotational stitching method, indicating comparable levels of geometric distortion (# 0.5% difference). The mean throughput time was found to be significantly shorter for the single-shot method (0.63 s 6 0.02 s) than for the rotational stitching method (7.36 s 6 0.08 s; P , .001). Overlapping regions exhibited incident doses approximately 2-fold higher than those exhibited by nonoverlapping regions for the rotational stitching method. Overall, the mean incident dose of the single-shot method (343 μGy) was 47.8% lower than that of the rotational stitching method (657.4 μGy), suggesting a potential advantage in radiation dose management. DISCUSSION: The 2 imaging methods showed minimal differences in geometric distortion, limited to a few millimeters. However, the single-shot method significantly reduced throughput time and patient radiation dose compared with rotational stitching, making the single-shot method a practical advantage for long-length imaging. CONCLUSION: The single-shot method provides geometric accuracy comparable with that of the rotational stitching method and significantly reduces throughput time and radiation dose, indicating its potential utility for clinical long-length imaging.