Measurement of the slice thickness in computed tomography (CT) is usually made using a special phantom, such as the AAPM CT performance phantom. Images of the phantom are analyzed manually and subjectively. The purpose of this study is to develop an automated system for measuring the slice thickness of the CT image of the phantom using MATLAB software. The CT AAPM performance phantom was scanned by a 128 multi-slice computed tomography scanner (Revolution Evo, GE Healthcare, Waukesha, WI) at a slice thickness of 5 mm with four different phantom orientations and also scanned by a 6 multi-slice CT scanner (Somatom Emotion 6, Siemens AG, Forchheim, Germany) for two slice thicknesses of 5 and 10 mm. Our automated method produced an accurate slice thickness value less than 0.5 mm different from the nominal slice thicknesses and manual measurements. Similar results were obtained when the phantom was rotated. This system is more objective and effective compared to manual systems.
Purpose: The current study proposes a method for automatically measuring slice thickness using a non-rotational method on the middle stair object of the AAPM CT performance phantom image. Method: The AAPM CT performance phantom was scanned by a GE Healthcare 128-slice CT scanner with nominal slice thicknesses of 0.625, 1.25, 2.5, 3.75, 5, 7.5 and 10 mm. The automated slice thickness was measured as the full width at half maximum (FWHM) of the profile of the middle stair object using a non-rotational method. The non-rotational method avoided rotating the image of the phantom. Instead, the lines to make the profiles were automatically rotated to confirm the stair’s location and rotation. The results of this non-rotational method were compared with those from a previous rotational method. Results: The slice thicknesses from the non-rotational method were 1.55, 1.86, 3.27, 4.86, 6.58, 7.57, and 9.66 mm for nominal slice thicknesses of 0.625, 1.25, 2.4, 3.75, 5, 7.5, and 10 mm, respectively. By comparison, the slice thicknesses from the rotational method were 1.53, 1.87, 3.32, 4.98, 6.77, 7.75, and 9.80 mm, respectively. The results of the nonrotational method were slightly lower (i.e. 0.25%) than the results of the rotational method for each nominal slice thickness, except for the smallest slice thickness. Conclusions: An alternative algorithm using a non-rotational method to measure the slice thickness of the middle stair object in the AAPM CT performance phantom was successfully implemented. The slice thicknesses from the nonrotational method results were slightly lower than the rotational method results for each nominal slice thickness, except at the smallest nominal slice thickness (0.625 mm).
An essential aspect of a diagnostic radiology quality assurance program is X-ray image repeat analysis, a systematic process to record rejected or repeated images to determine the cause so we can minimize that image repetition in the future. Some of the disadvantages caused by repeated X-ray photo examinations are giving additional doses to patients (unnecessary exposure), ineffective time for radiology staff and patients (wasting time), and financial losses due to electricity for the X-ray machine and the DR system (unit costs). In January 2021, at the Radiology Installation of Indriati Hospital, repeated X-Ray photos analysis was chosen as one of the quality indicators by Decree No. 031/PER-RSIND/2021. The goal is to look for improvements to minimize repeated X-ray photos occurrence and prevent unnecessary exposure. Monitoring is carried out daily through SISMADAK V5.0.3 and is reported monthly to the KMRS committee. The step for selecting quality indicators for X-ray photo examination repetition has greatly impacted the aspects of radiation protection and safety because it can reduce the number of X-ray photo inspection repetitions by 0.6% from 2020. The continuous improvement step based on the root cause of the fishbone method is with the supervision of a radiographer intensively with OPPE assessment and credentials in the hope of minimizing the repetition of X-ray photos. It can become a fundamental aspect of radiation protection and culture safety, especially in the radiology installation of Indriati-Solobaru Hospital, Sukoharjo, Central Java. Keywords: X-ray photo repetition, quality indicators, fishbone method, radiation safety culture.
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