• S Pötter-Lang, S Schalekamp, C Schaefer-Prokop, and M Uffmann.
• Universitätsklinik für Radiologie und Nuklearmedizin, Department of Biomedical Imaging and Image-Guided Therapy, Medizinische Universität Wien, Waehringer Guertel 18-20, 1090, Wien, Österreich, sarah.poetter-lang@meduniwien.ac.at.
• Radiologe. 2014 May 1;54(5):455-61.

BackgroundChest radiography still represents the most commonly performed X-ray examination because it is readily available, requires low radiation doses and is relatively inexpensive. However, as previously published, many initially undetected lung nodules are retrospectively visible in chest radiographs.Standard Radiological MethodsThe great improvements in detector technology with the increasing dose efficiency and improved contrast resolution provide a better image quality and reduced dose needs.Methodical InnovationsThe dual energy acquisition technique and advanced image processing methods (e.g. digital bone subtraction and temporal subtraction) reduce the anatomical background noise by reduction of overlapping structures in chest radiography. Computer-aided detection (CAD) schemes increase the awareness of radiologists for suspicious areas.ResultsThe advanced image processing methods show clear improvements for the detection of pulmonary lung nodules in chest radiography and strengthen the role of this method in comparison to 3D acquisition techniques, such as computed tomography (CT).AssessmentMany of these methods will probably be integrated into standard clinical treatment in the near future. Digital software solutions offer advantages as they can be easily incorporated into radiology departments and are often more affordable as compared to hardware solutions.

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