[Value of the AMBER system in interstitial lung changes].

PURPOSE: To evaluate the diagnostic value of the AMBER technique in the diagnosis of interstitial lung disease.

METHODS

A prospective comparison of conventional and AMBER chest radiographs of 52 patients was performed using HR-CT as a gold standard on the same day. ROC analysis based on the results of 5 observers was carried out to quantify the diagnostic value of both chest radiograph techniques.

RESULTS

The ROC area for the AMBER system (0.860) showed statistically significant superiority in comparison to the conventional technique (0.828). This was mainly due to the better sensitivity of the AMBER system (65.3%) compared to the conventional chest radiographs (39.8%) within the lung regions superimposed by the diaphragm or the mediastinum. No difference between both methods was observed within the lung regions without superimposion.

CONCLUSION

AMBER technique improved conventional chest radiography in the diagnosis of interstitial lung disease due to superiority in the superimposed lung regions.