Evidence map›Paper›PMID 32855021›Full record

ArticleRadiography (London, England : 1995)2021

Modifications to mobile chest radiography technique during the COVID-19 pandemic - implications of X-raying through side room windows.

A England, E Littler, S Romani, P Cosson

Abstract read
In one paragraph

Article in Radiography (London, England : 1995), 2021. The graph could read no effect estimate from its abstract, so it casts no vote on the map. Cited by 3 papers, 1 of them a synthesis that pooled it.

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0cells of the map it votes in
3citing papers in PubMed, 1 pooled it
–field-weighted citation impact
1 · What the graph read from it

What it found

Each row is one number read from the abstract, on the scale the paper reported it, with its interval. Left of the dashed line favours the treatment, right favours the comparator. Under each row is the sentence it came from. New to these charts? A ten-minute tutorial.

The abstract states no effect estimate the extractor could read, or names no intervention and outcome on the map, so this paper lights no cell and moves no belief. It is still indexed, cited and linked below.

2 · The registry

The trial behind it

Trials whose registry record cites this paper, or whose number appears in the abstract. A trial that started after this paper was published is citing it as background, not reporting it.

Neither the registry nor the abstract names a trial number. If this is a trial report, that itself is worth knowing.

3 · Its place in the literature

Who cites it

3 citing papers in PubMed, 1 synthesis or guideline pooled it.

  1. Pooled it
  2. Article
  3. Imaging approach to COVID-19 associated pulmonary embolism.International journal of clinical practice · 2021
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4 · The record

Corrections and comments

PubMed lists nothing against this paper. Absence here is not a guarantee, only a check that was made.

5 · Who and what money

Authors and funding

4 authors.

A EnglandSchool of Allied Health Professions, Keele University, Staffordshire, UK. Electronic address: a.england@keele.ac.uk.
E LittlerDepartment of Radiology, Warrington and Halton Teaching Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust, Warrington, UK.
S RomaniLPD Lab Services, Blackburn, UK.
P CossonMedical Imaging Department, Teesside University, Middlesbrough, UK.

Funding

No grant is acknowledged in the PubMed record.

6 · The paper itself

Abstract

introductionModifications to common radiographic techniques have resulted from the challenges presented by the COVID-19 pandemic. Reports exist regarding the potential benefits of undertaking mobile radiography through side room windows. The aim of this study was to evaluate the impact on image quality and exposure factors when undertaking such examinations.

methodsA phantom based study was undertaken using a digital X-ray room. Control acquisitions, using a commercially available image quality test tool, were performed using standard mobile chest radiography acquisition factors. Image quality (physical and visual), incidence surface air kerma (ISAK), Exposure Index (EI) and Deviation Index (DI) were recorded. Image quality and radiation dose were further assessed for two additional (experimental) scenarios, where a side room window was located immediately adjacent to the exit port of the light beam diaphragm. The goal of experimental scenario one was to modify exposure factors to maintain the control ISAK. The goal of experimental scenario two was to modify exposure factors to maintain the control EI and DI. Dose and image quality data were compared between the three scenarios.

resultsTo maintain the pre-window (control) ISAK (76 μGy), tube output needed a three-fold increase (90 kV/4 mAs versus 90 kV/11.25 mAs). To maintain EI/DI a more modest increase in tube output was required (90 kV/8 mAs/ISAK 54 μGy). Physical and visual assessments of spatial resolution and signal-to-noise ratio were indifferent between the three scenarios. There was a slight statistically significant reduction in contrast-to-noise ratio when imaging through the glass window (2.3 versus 1.4 and 1.2; P = 0.005).

conclusionUndertaking mobile X-ray examinations through side room windows is potentially feasible but does require an increase in tube output and is likely to be limited by minor reductions in image quality. IMPLICATIONS FOR PRACTICE: Mobile examinations performed through side room windows should only be used in limited circumstances and future clinical evaluation of this technique is warranted.

Indexed as

COVID-19HumansPhantoms, ImagingRadiation DosageRadiography, ThoracicRadiology Department, HospitalCOVID-19Image qualityMobile radiographyModified techniqueRadiation dose

Identifiers

PMID32855021
PMCPMC7396953

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Read under generation 80e0d062 · epoch 390. Bibliography from PubMed, PubMed Central and OpenAlex; grants from NIH RePORTER; trial links from ClinicalTrials.gov; estimates, votes and beliefs from the OpenQuestion graph.