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A stitch in time: stitching errors in digital radiology

Clare Faurie, Nicole Williams and Peter J Cundy
Med J Aust 2017; 207 (5): . || doi: 10.5694/mja17.00098
Published online: 4 September 2017

Modern digital radiological techniques include “stitching” together multiple x-ray images. This provides one overall image of the area of interest, such as the entire spine or lower limbs, for deformity assessment. Dedicated software automatically combines separate exposures and allows for overlap. Image acquisition is rapid, minimising patient motion artefact and reducing distortion.1 However, if images are inappropriately put together (digitally stitched), stitching errors may occur with this computer-driven process. If not manually corrected by the radiology technician, the supplied image may hide pathology or give the false impression of abnormality. Four cases of digital stitching error have recently occurred in our tertiary referral paediatric hospital.


  • 1 Women's and Children's Hospital, Adelaide, SA
  • 2 Centre for Orthopaedic and Trauma Research, University of Adelaide, Adelaide, SA


Correspondence: nicole.williams4@sa.gov.au

Competing interests:

No relevant disclosures.

  • 1. Supakul N, Newbrough K, Cohen MD, Jennings SG. Diagnostic errors from digital stitching of scoliosis images — the importance of evaluating the source images prior to making a final diagnosis. Pediatr Radiol 2012; 42: 584-598.
  • 2. Kuklo TR, Potter BK, Schroeder TM, O’Brien MF. Comparison of manual and digital measurements in adolescent idiopathic scoliosis. Spine (Phila Pa 1976) 2006; 31: 1240-1246.
  • 3. Yang F, He Y, Deng ZS, Yan A. Improvement of automated image stitching system for DR X-ray images. Comput Biol Med 2016; 71: 108-114.

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