Radiation exposure reduction using carbon fiber.

The ability of carbon fiber cassette fronts to reduce x-ray exposure was evaluated by comparing a carbon fiber cassette with a Kodak X-Omatic cassette. Rare-earth screens were used. Although the transmission of the carbon fiber was considerably higher than that of the X-Omatic cassette, the radiation exposure reduction was significant only in the lower kVp ranges. Although some decrease in the primary-to-scatter ratio was measured, the overall image contrast with the carbon fiber cassette was only minimally reduced in the kVp range investigated.