Purpose
To assess the image quality criteria from examinations in digital radiography based on quality control charts and to demonstrate the importance of implementing an image quality control system.
Methods and materials
A retrospective study was conducted in a public radiology department using a random sample of 1200 radiographs grouped in 60 smaller samples,
each one with 20 radiographs.
Using a checklist based on the “American College of Radiology Practice Guidelines for the Performance of abdominal,
chest and extremities radiographs”.
All examinations were analyzed and classified as conform if all quality criteria stablished were present,
or non-conform it at least one criteria were missing.
The conformities and non-conformities found were recorded and used to establish three types...
Results
Considering 1200 exams observed,
473 were classified as non-conform (39.42%) and 727 were classified as conform (60.58%).
Considering the non-conform exams group,
the quality criteria “incomplete or incorrect image post-processing” presented the highest number of non-conformities (58,92%),
followed by “incorrect patient positioning” (35,32%) and “artefacts” (5,77%).
Chest radiograph showed the highest number of non-conformities (174).
Abdominal Radiograph
P Chart – Abdominal Radiograph: Consideringpchart to the abdominal radiograph,
the sample is located inside the SCL-LCL range so the process is under statistical control (Fig. 1).
The...
Conclusion
This research allowed the identification of different types of non-conformities found in abdominal,
chest and extremities radiographs,
which have impact on imaging quality.
Therefore,
the existence of suitable quality control of the radiographic images is essential to achieve high quality standards in radiology departments.
It is recommendable to do training courses regularly improving radiographers performance and strategies to reduce the non-conformities must be implemented.
Personal information
Ana Mendes (BSc),
Collaborator in the Medical Imaging and Radiotherapy Department,
Health School - University of Algarve,
Portugal.
Anabela Ribeiro (MSc),
Professor in the Medical Imaging and Radiotherapy Department,
Health School - University of Algarve,
Portugal.
Radiographer in Centro Hospitalar do Algarve - Portimão,
Portugal.
Researcher in CICS.NOVA (Interdisciplinary Centre of Social Sciences,
Faculty of Social Sciences and Humanities).
Luís Ribeiro (PhD),
Professor in the Medical Imaging and Radiotherapy Department,
Health School - University of Algarve,
Portugal.
Researcher in CIDAF – University of Coimbra (Centro...
References
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(2011) ACR–SPR Practice Guideline for the Performance of Abdominal Radiography.
American College of Radiology.
(2011).
ACR–SPR Practice Guideline for the Performance of Chest Radiography.
American College of Radiology.
(2013).
ACR–SPR Practice Guideline for the Performance of Radiography of the Extremities.
Biasoli,
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(2010).
Manual de Posicionamento Radiográfico.
Rio de Janeiro: Rubio Editora....