The effect of scintillator response on signal difference to noise ratio in X-ray medical imaging

The aim of the present study was to examine the effect of scintillator material properties on the signal difference to noise ratio (SdNR) under X-ray imaging conditions. To this aim, SdNR was modelled in terms of scintillator material properties such as the quantum detection efficiency (QDE), the intrinsic energy conversion efficiency (ICE) and the light transmission efficiency (LTE). Scintillators were assumed to be in the form of scintillator layers (phosphor screens) with various thicknesses ranging from 70 to 110 mg/cm2. Data on the X-ray absorption and optical properties of the scintillators were either calculated from tabulated data, i.e. X-ray attenuation coefficients for QDE estimation, or were obtained from previous experimental studies. It was found that in a wide range of X-ray tube voltages the Gd2O2S:Tb scintillator produced higher SdNR values, while the CsI:Tl scintillator was better at lower voltages (below 65 kVp). It was additionally verified that, in the range of X-ray diagnostic energies, SdNR increases with the thickness of the scintillator layer screen. In conclusion, SdNR may be critically affected by scintillator properties and, hence, it may be significantly improved by appropriately selecting the type and thickness of the phosphor screen to be integrated into an imaging system.