Effects of the use of multi-layer filter on radiation exposure and the quality of upper airway radiographs compared to the traditional copper filter.

What Was Tested

Researchers studied Copper (Supplement) in this randomized controlled trial publication.

Then, both the filters were tested with Alderson Rando phantom to determine the appropriate exposure.

Why It Was Studied

The problem of image quality in a large number of upper airway obstructed patients is the superimposition of the airway over the bone of the spine on the AP view.

Who Took Part

The abstract describes 132 patients taking part.

Using the method described, a new type of filter called the multi-layer filter for imaging patients was developed.

The research was conducted in patients with upper airway obstruction treated at Queen Sirikit National Institute of Child Health from October 2006 to September 2007.

How the Study Was Run

The researchers set it up as a randomized study.

Random assignment meant chance, not the researchers, decided who got Copper (Supplement) and who got the comparison, which limits bias.

The attenuation curve of both filter materials was first identified.

A total of 132 patients were divided into two groups.

The experimental group used high kVp technique with multi-layer filter, while the control group used copper filter.

A comparison of film interpretation between the multi-layer filter and the copper filter was made by a number of radiologists who were blinded to both to the technique and type of filter used.

What Was Measured

Topics PubMed links to this paper include Airway Obstruction, Copper, Phantoms, Imaging, Photons, Radiation Protection, Radiographic Image Interpretation, Computer-Assisted and Respiratory System.

What This Means in Plain Language

The paper is a randomized study of Copper (Supplement) in 132 patients.

The abstract goes on to report its results in about 4 sentences; this page does not restate them, so read the paper for the findings and their limits.

The publication is from 2014 (Journal of the Medical Association of Thailand = Chotmaihet thangphaet), a journal based in Thailand.

More context: the Copper (Supplement) compound page, all human trials.