Performance of medical radiographic X-ray systems in Greece for the time period 1998-2004.
This study presents the results of the on-site inspections performed by the Greek Atomic Energy Commission (GAEC) on conventional X-ray systems, both in public and private medical radiology departments. A part of the inspection concerns the assessment of important radiographic parameters obtained according to a specified quality control protocol and the comparison of the measured parameter values with the corresponding acceptance limits. A total number of 1011 radiographic systems were inspected by the GAEC during the period 1998-2004, with 63.4% of them being privately owned. Analysis of 8 different operational parameters is carried out providing information on the overall performance, as well as on each parameter of the inspected X-ray systems. Tube voltage reproducibility values show the highest percentage of acceptability (98.9%, 99.5% for private and public owned radiographic systems respectively), while linearity of radiation output for private systems (72.5%) and time accuracy for public ones (72.7%) show the worst results. The comparison of the results for the private sector to those of a similar study carried out during the period 1995-1997 indicates a substantial improvement in X-ray systems performance. Higher level of improvement shows exposure time accuracy (12.2% percentile increase) and linearity of radiation output (12.5% percentile increase). Nevertheless, the situation can be further optimized if maintenance and quality control of the radiographic systems are carried out on a more regular basis.
Economides
S
S
Licensing and Inspections, Greek Atomic Energy Commission, Ag. Paraskevi 153 10, Greece. sikonom@gaec.gr
Hourdakis
C J
CJ
Kalivas
N
N
Kalathaki
M
M
Simantirakis
G
G
Tritakis
P
P
Manousaridis
G
G
Vogiatzi
S
S
Kipouros
P
P
Boziari
A
A
Kamenopoulou
V
V
D026683:Advisory Committees / Q000331:legislation & jurisprudence; D006115:Greece; D006801:Humans; D017149:Private Sector; D017150:Public Sector; D011859:Radiography / Q000379:methods* / Q000592:standards*; D015203:Reproducibility of Results; D012680:Sensitivity and Specificity; D013997:Time Factors