Ultra low dose X-ray spinal examinations.

: The study and treatment of spinal deformities may lead to excessive doses of radiation for patients (especially children) examined by conventional X-ray radiology apparatus. In order to avoid this very crucial problem, a new X-ray radiology system has been devised. The new apparatus uses a high efficiency linear solid-state detector and highly sensitive electronics, operating in single X-ray counting mode (quantum mode). The scan parameters and image filtering are computer controlled. Data is acquired in real time by a high speed VME system. In this paper, the first images recorded using this new apparatus are shown. The main conclusion of the preliminary comparative dosimetric analysis is that it is possible to divide the patient's dose by a factor of at least ten to one hundred with the quantum X-ray radiology apparatus.