Acceptance testing and routine quality control in general radiography: mobile units and film/screen fixed systems

Gray, L.; Dowling, A.; Gallagher, Aoife; Gorman, Dermot; O'Connor, U.; Devine, M.; Larkin, A.; Walsh, Colin; Malone, Jim

doi:10.1093/rpd/ncn033

Cited by 5 publications

(4 citation statements)

References 1 publication

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“…Increasing the dose in X-rays, the so-called “exposure creep”, can lead to increased radiation exposure for the medical personnel and the patient [9]. In addition, failures in the X-ray system can lead to deviations between the settings of the exposure parameters and the actual exposure parameters used [3]. For radiation protection reasons, X-rays should be taken in compliance with the ALARA (as low as reasonably achievable) principle [20].…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…The routine quality control testing of X-ray systems in Ireland during 2006 and 2007 revealed major or minor problems in 76% of the systems [3]. Most problems occurred with the automatic exposure control and the beam alignment, but also the dose output varied significantly [3]. Furthermore, a common problem with computed radiography is the use of higher exposure parameters than needed, which is known as “exposure creep” [8].…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

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Development of a zoomorphic test specimen for constancy testing on digital X-ray systems in veterinary radiology

Pöhlmann¹,

Lüpke²,

Seiler³

et al. 2019

Acta Vet Scand

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Background Technical failures and incorrect usage of digital X-ray systems may lead to a decreasing image quality, artefacts and a higher dose exposure of staff and patients. Although there are no regulations regarding constancy testing in veterinary radiology all operators are required to avoid unnecessary exposure. The aim of this study was to develop a reasonably inexpensive zoomorphic 3D-printed test specimen for constancy testing that allows the detection of changing image quality by visual analysis. Primarily, a calibration curve of the attenuation factor of the 3D-printing material (ZP150) was determined. MATLAB converted every pixel value of a thorax X-ray image of a Beagle dog into an equivalent thickness of printing material. The thickness distribution was printed using a 3D-printer. This printed test specimen was additionally provided with five thin aluminium discs to simulate lung nodules. To evaluate the usability for constancy testing 12 X-ray images of the test specimen were made. Two images (reference and control) were taken with the minimum dose in order to obtain images suitable for diagnosis purposes. Eight images were taken with a dose differing 30–140% from the reference dose by varying current–time product (mAs) or tube voltage (kVp). Two images were taken with the same parameters as the reference image but edited with different image processing. Six veterinarians (general practitioners) evaluated ten chosen structures in the X-ray images in a Visual Grading Analysis and scored the image quality of these structures for every image in comparison to the reference image. A Visual Grading Analysis Score was calculated and statistically analysed. Results A higher current–time product led to a negligibly better evaluation of the X-ray image. The lower the current–time product the worse the X-ray images were scored. Likewise, both increasing and decreasing of the tube voltage led to lower scores. Conclusions A zoomorphic test specimen can be used for constancy testing of digital X-ray systems in veterinary medicine. Especially a lower dose can be recognised due to deviation in the image quality when compared to the reference image. The 3D-printed test specimen is less expensive than test equipment used in human medicine.

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Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

See 1 more Smart Citation

Development of a zoomorphic test specimen for constancy testing on digital X-ray systems in veterinary radiology

Pöhlmann¹,

Lüpke²,

Seiler³

et al. 2019

Acta Vet Scand

View full text Add to dashboard Cite

show abstract

“…The establishment of a quality control program implies the implementation of a set of procedures for the regular and periodic testing of medical equipment and the evaluation of imaging quality to ensure the radiodiagnostic imaging process is in conformity with regulations. ( 5 , 6 ) Health Services and Radiology Sectors use a variety of quality systems and models, including Continuous Quality Improvement (CQI) (7) . Due to the strong competitiveness of the sector, business administrators must focus on continuous improvements to reduce costs and enhance the efficiency and quality of these services.…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Evolution of X‐ray machine quality control acceptance indices

Magon¹,

Mascarenhas²

2009

J Applied Clin Med Phys

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The quality assurance (QA) of radiographic images based on the operating conditions of X‐ray equipment is essential for good image quality, accurate medical diagnostics and for the prevention of health professionals and patients to unnecessary doses of ionizing radiation. This paper presents a historical analysis of 1,635 Quality Assurance Technical Reports of Health Institutions in the state of São Paulo, Brazil, over a seven‐year period. Based on acceptable limits for variations between nominal and measured parameters as the variable to determine the quality of X‐ray equipment operating conditions, a significant improvement was found in the percentage of acceptance of the overall parameters described in the QA technical reports over this period. As expected, we found a strong concentration in the categories of conventional and portable X‐ray equipment, which represent 72% and 84%, respectively, of the total number of equipments. A mechanical parameter such as half‐value layer (HVL), which is important not only for image quality but also for radiation protection, showed significant improvements. Again, only 58% of portable X‐ray equipment showed HVL values recommended for 80 kVp (above 2.3 mm Al), a percentage that improved to 76% in 2006. With regard to mammographers, which are newer machines, all the analyzed systems presented acceptable HVL values. Conventional X‐ray machines showed an increase of this conformity index from 89% in 2000 to 94% in 2006. All this improvement was attributed to the continuous and extensive enforcement of Regulation Act 453 in the state of São Paulo. The improvement in equipment quality control standards is expected to result in the improvement of diagnostic quality, as well as in the reduction of exam repetitions, and thereby reducing the patient's exposure to radiation.PACS number: 87.57.C

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Development of a universal medical phantom for quality control of X-ray equipment

Yassen,

Awad,

Elsadig

et al. 2023

INTERNATIONAL CONFERENCE ON SCIENTIFIC RESEARCH &Amp; INNOVATION (ICSRI 2022)

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Acceptance testing and routine quality control in general radiography: mobile units and film/screen fixed systems

Cited by 5 publications

References 1 publication

Development of a zoomorphic test specimen for constancy testing on digital X-ray systems in veterinary radiology

Development of a zoomorphic test specimen for constancy testing on digital X-ray systems in veterinary radiology

Evolution of X‐ray machine quality control acceptance indices

Development of a universal medical phantom for quality control of X-ray equipment

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