title: Quality assurance (QA) procedures for software: evaluation of an ADC quality system.
abstract: Image viewing and processing software in computed radiography manipulates image contrast in such a way that all relevant image features are rendered to an appropriate degree of visibility, and improves image quality using enhancement algorithms. The purpose of this study was to investigate procedures for the quality assessment of image processing software for computed radiography with the use of existing test objects and to assess the influence that processing introduces on physical image quality characteristics. Measurements of high-contrast resolution, low-contrast resolution, spatial resolution, greyscale (characteristic curve) and geometric distortion were performed 'subjectively' by three independent observers and 'objectively' by the use of criteria based on pixel intensity values. Results show quality assessment is possible without the need for human evaluators, using digital images. It was discovered that the processing software evaluated in this study was able to improve some aspects of image quality, without introducing geometric distortion.
authors.affiliation: Second Department of Radiology, Medical School, University of Athens, General Hospital Attikon, Rimini 1, 124 62, Athens, Greece. stathise@cc.uoa.gr
authors.forename: E P
authors.initials: EP
authors.lastname: Efstathopoulos
authors.forename: O
authors.initials: O
authors.lastname: Benekos
authors.forename: M
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Molfetas
authors.forename: E
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Charou
authors.forename: S
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Kottou
authors.forename: S
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Argentos
authors.forename: N L
authors.initials: NL
authors.lastname: Kelekis
mesh_terms: D000465:Algorithms; D003287:Contrast Media / Q000494:pharmacology; D005069:Evaluation Studies as Topic; D006801:Humans; D007091:Image Processing, Computer-Assisted; D011786:Quality Control; D011835:Radiation Protection / Q000379:methods; D011856:Radiographic Image Enhancement / Q000379:methods*; D011859:Radiography / Q000379:methods*; D011874:Radiometry / Q000379:methods; D012984:Software
chemical_list: D003287:Contrast Media