| abstract |
This invention pertains to novel methods of radiography and novel screen-film cassettes with wide exposure latitude and/or high film contrast for use in radiography. The materials and methods of the subject invention can be used in mammography. In a specific example, this invention concerns the design of novel screen-film cassettes which can use at least one phosphor screen and multiple x-ray films in a single cassette. When used in mammography, this novel design enables additional breast images to be obtained on the faster, or slower, speed film from the same x-ray exposure used to produce a normal breast image on the normal speed film. These additional breast images provide high contrast information on the dense regions of the breast and in the edge areas of the compressed breast. These dense regions currently cause many missed diagnoses in breast cancer screening. The use of this novel multi-screen, multi-film cassette in mammography has the potential to improve the diagnostic accuracy in breast cancer detection, and simultaneously reduce patient breast glandular dose by eliminating unnecessary exposure due to film retake. Obtaining multiple film images of the same object from a single x-ray exposure can apply to many areas of medical and industrial radiography. |