Capabilities of Tomosynthesis in Diagnosing Chest Diseases and Injuries

Abstract

The aim of the investigation is to assess the capabilities of tomosynthesis (TS) in diagnosing chest diseases and injuries. Materials and Methods. One hundred and twenty eight patients admitted to the reception ward of Moscow City Hospital with various complaints were examined. All the patients underwent digital radiography (DR) of the chest as clinically indicated. When changes were revealed, chest TS was performed in a standing or lying position. To clarify the nature of lung tissue lesions, 44 patients were examined by multislice computed tomography (MSCT). According to DR findings, the patients were divided into five groups depending on the key X-ray syndrome: with the signs of lung consolidation (n=29), nodules (n=28), destructive lung lesions (n=24), disseminated process (n=24) and urgent conditions (n=23).Results. In some cases TS has allowed exclusion of a pathological process and identifying additional changes, namely, the signs of localized tinyfocal dissemination, lung tissue destruction, "bronchial amputation" and "air bronchogram" symptom, nodules, rib injuries and others. TS improves the abilities of X-ray radiography, it is superior to DR in the detection of many X-ray semiotic signs and can be used to provide additional diagnostic accuracy.Conclusion. TS is inferior to MSCT in diagnosing chest diseases and injuries, however, in 67.2% of observed cases it allows acquisition of additional information. In 39.8% of cases this information has proved to be clinically significant and influenced further management of these patients.