[Check of compliance with quality criteria for diagnostic radiographic images in quality control].
OBJECTIVE
To devise and implement a programme of measurements to assess the entrance surface dose for a standard-sized patient and to check the compliance with diagnostic reference levels.


METHODS
Dose evaluation was performed on 40 radiographic instruments. The exposure parameters were collected for the main radiographic procedures (chest, skull, spine, pelvis, abdomen) each performed with instrument on a standard-sized patient. The output of each X-ray tube at 70, 80, 90, 100, 110 and 120 kV was measured with a solid state detector during quality controls. Beam quality and geometric characteristics of the equipment were also determined. The entrance surface dose for a standard patient was assessed for each procedure carried out with the 40 instruments, thus obtaining a total of 155 radiographic techniques. Finally, the method was validated by comparing the values obtained with the solid state and an ionization chamber for X-ray beam detector.


RESULTS
The comparison between the solid state detector and the ionisation chamber demonstrated a good agreement. Results show that reference diagnostic levels are respected in most examinations (147/155) even if exposure values do not always comply with those indicated by European guidelines. The measurement programme seems to be applicable in hospital practice where the large number of radiographics instruments and procedures requires the acquisition and processing of a large number of data.


CONCLUSIONS
The evaluation of patient dose during quality control is feasible and allows a first check of compliance with reference levels in order to identify which procedures can be optimised by means of more specific measurements and assessments.
Ropolo
R
R
Unità Operativa Autonoma Fisica Sanitaria, Azienda Ospedaliera San Giovanni Battista, Corso Bramante 88, 10126 Torino. fisica@molinette.piemonte.it
Isoardi
P
P
Catuzzo
P
P
Bianchi
S D
SD
Bradac
G B
GB
Cammarota
T
T
Davini
O
O
De Lucchi
R
R
Gandini
G
G
D019983:Guideline Adherence; D011786:Quality Control; D011859:Radiography / Q000295:instrumentation / Q000592:standards*