Digital Imaging in Hospital Radiology: CR vs. DR Systems

Introduction: The Evolution of Digital Imaging

Digital imaging in hospital radiology departments came about for several reasons. The most important of these, however, was the idea that digital images could be viewed by any authorized person at any time, thus making it much easier and faster for those who needed to see them to gain access (Gillespie, 1999). These digital images eliminate the need for films and film libraries, thereby freeing up physical space. However, problems remain that have prevented digital imaging in hospital radiology departments from progressing as quickly as was hoped. The major concern for these departments is the cost of digital imaging equipment, which is considerably more expensive than the older methods previously used to take X-rays and perform related functions (Gillespie, 1999).

The hoped-for return on investment has not materialized in many of these departments, making them slow to transition to a filmless system. When coupled with the high cost of the technology, digital imaging has been relatively slow to evolve — yet its importance for the future should not be discounted. Despite its slower-than-expected start, studies and other evidence show that the use of digital imaging in radiology departments and other areas of medical practice is growing (Zesearch, 2001; Newman, 2003; Revolution, 2003). Larger hospitals and departments are generally able to afford this technology more easily and therefore tend to expand their capabilities more quickly, but smaller hospitals are also showing interest in digital imaging for their radiology departments, provided they can secure funding for the initial equipment purchase.

There are two main types of systems: computed radiography (CR) and digital radiography (DR). The remainder of this paper discusses these two types of digital imaging systems as they relate to hospital radiology departments, followed by an analysis of image quality and its significance.

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