Image quality and dose in lumbar spine examinations: results of a 5 year quality control programme following the European quality criteria trial.
The large dose values found for lumbar spine examinations in a centre participating in the European quality criteria trial have been investigated within a 5 year quality control programme. Actions focused mainly on optimizing the focus-to-film distance, tube potential (kV), film optical density and X-ray beam filtration. These actions lead to overall dose reductions of up to 75% in lumbo-sacral joint examinations and prove the need for a regular survey of patient skin doses.
Vañó
E
E
Radiology Department, Complutense University, Madrid, Spain.
Oliete
S
S
González
L
L
Guibelalde
E
E
Velasco
A
A
Fernández
J M
JM
D006801:Humans; D008159:Lumbar Vertebrae / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging*; D011786:Quality Control; D011829:Radiation Dosage; D011859:Radiography / Q000295:instrumentation / Q000592:standards