What does the thin, active layer within the computed radiography (CR) cassette store?

The thin, active layer within the computed radiography (CR) cassette is responsible for storing the latent image. This latent image is created when radiation interacts with the photostimulable phosphor (PSP) layer in the CR cassette. The PSP absorbs the X-ray photons and becomes energized, capturing an image of the distribution of the radiographic exposure but in a form that cannot yet be seen.

When the cassette is later processed in a CR reader, the stored energy is released as visible light, which is then converted into a digital image. Thus, the process of forming a latent image is crucial in CR systems, as it allows for the subsequent retrieval and digital conversion necessary for creating the final radiographic image.

The other choices relate to information that may be associated with the radiographic exam but are not stored within the active layer itself. Manifest images pertain to the visible digital images produced after processing, while patient and exam metadata are important for context and identification but do not involve the image-storage function of the active layer.