Qualitative study of mechanical parameters of conventional diagnostic X-ray machines in Mizoram

Abstract

The present study examined the mechanical attributes of 135 conventional diagnostic X-ray machines in Mizoram, India. The purpose of studying the X-ray mechanical parameters, such as congruency, perpendicularity of the central beam, and half-value layer, was to improve the quality of the diagnostic image and reduce the patient dose. A battery-operated portable dosimeter was used to measure output radiation of the X-ray machine. The half-value layer was measured at a constant accelerating potential of 70 kVp and tube load. To measure the congruency and beam alignment perpendicularity, a congruence and alignment tool was used. The survey data were collected between June 2015 and June 2016. The authors followed international standard test procedures, and the results were compared to national and international standards. SPSS Statistics for Windows, Version 17 was used to calculate the mean, range, and standard deviation. The half-value layer ranged from 0.45 to 3.00 mm; the mean half-value layer was 1.60 ± 0.51 SD mm. In comparison with national and international standards, only 27.83% (national) and 15.64% (international) of the machines' filtration were found to be within acceptable limits. The congruence misalignment of the x-axis varied between 0.50% and 15.30% of the source-to-image distance; for the y-axis, it ranged from 0.50 to 10.90%. When the congruence between the radiation beam and optical field was tested, 80.85% of diagnostic X-ray machines did not meet the prescribed acceptance parameters. When the perpendicularity between the central beam and the image receptor was tested, 69.81% did not meet safety standards.

Investigation of conventional diagnostic X-ray tube housing leakage radiation using ion chamber survey meter in Mizoram, India

“…In view of the total workloads of all X-ray facilities, conventional X-ray contributed 90.94% and other 9.06% were shared between dental X-rays and other (CT-scan, fluoroscopic & mammographic) procedures; the detail was published in the previous study. [15][16] These workloads were calculated from several parameters such as; patients per day, films per patient, mAs per film and days per week by using formula given by NCRP. [16][17] The authors classified all the working conventional units into fixed, mobile-fixed and mobile unit.…”

“…[15][16] These workloads were calculated from several parameters such as; patients per day, films per patient, mAs per film and days per week by using formula given by NCRP. [16][17] The authors classified all the working conventional units into fixed, mobile-fixed and mobile unit. Out of all that, 93 (55.03%) working conventional diagnostic X-rays which were installed in 72 different hospitals were studied.…”

Study on the intensity of radiation attenuated by protective barriers in diagnostic X-ray installations

“…N = Nₒe -µx that there will always be a photon which transmit at any thickness without having interaction. 9,10 While plywood doors attenuated approximately 40% of the incident radiation, it is almost same as air does in every half meter away from the phantom. 14…”

“…of incident photons e -base of natural logarithms with values 2.718. 8,9 So, using equation 1only non-collided photons can be considered but while using equation 2, collided photons which scattered from various points in the shield are included. The radiation transmitted with a broad beam is greater than that implied simply by the linear attenuation coefficient.…”