The Assessment of Dose and Image Quality of Storage Phosphor Systems: An Overview of the Different Tasks

Abstract

The assessment of the dose-image quality relation using storage phosphor systems requires a series of tasks. In the text, the main aspects are summarized and the differences with the measurements for X ray equipment using film-screen cassettes are indicated. Standards of testing are becoming available for quality control measurements of the equipment. The global analysis is, however, less standardised. Large scale trials concerning dose and image quality are missing. In particular, guidelines about the appropriate use of post processing parameters and image visualisation are scarce. In this regard, a newly proposed method to evaluate image quality as a function of post-processing parameters for particular types of clinical images is mentioned. It is concluded that a thorough analysis may be very time consuming, but if the properties of the digital detectors are exploited, many tasks can be automated.

Development and validation of a simulation procedure to study the visibility of micro calcifications in digital mammograms

“…This approach overcomes the shortages of classical test objects with a uniform background. 8 The method was developed for technology assessment of processing and display in digital mammography. This simulation model may be an alternative for visibility studies with real micro calcifications in real mammograms or visibility studies that make use of exposures of simulated details ͑i.e., bone specks, Al or calcium oxalate test details͒ on top of mastectomies.…”

“…The value of the above-described approach is questionable for assessing a digital mammography system. 8 This is mainly due to the fact that the outcome of image processing and display depends on the x-ray dose distribution in the detector. In addition, the local texture of the breast tissue impacts also the processing.…”

Storage phosphor radiography of wrist fractures: a subjective comparison of image quality at varying exposure levels

“…An important aspect of image quality in storage phosphor radiography relates to the type of postprocessing which is applied. Agfa's proprietary MUSICA concept used in our study is only one possible solution (but the most versatile solution up to date), and while the influence of postprocessing on image appearance is substantial, there are only limited studies addressing this subject [13,14]. A detailed description of MUSICA and its influences on image appearance, which is given elsewhere [15], is beyond the scope of this study; however, we add that a change in one or several MUSICA parameters will certainly influence the results of an image-quality evaluation.…”