Xeroradiography in beta-thalassaemia.

Xeroradiographic investigations of the skull, hand, and elbow were performed on 27 patients with homozygous beta-thalassaemia. The results were compared with plain radiographic examinations. Xeroradiography, because of its technical properties (i.e. edge contrast enhancement and wide latitude), was shown to demonstrate cortical thinning of long bones, swelling of the diploic space in the skull, and reticulated patterns in the elbow better than standard radiography. Moreover, the use of "positive" mode imaging was shown to have advantages in the study of the skull and extremities.