Aims and objectives
To assess the image quality criteria from chest CT examinations based in quality control charts and to demonstrate the importance of implementing an image qualitycontrol system.
Methods and materials
A retrospective study was conducted in a public CT unit using a random sample.
Using a checklist based on European Guidelines for Quality Criteria forComputed Tomography,
four categories were evaluated: exam identification,
artifacts,
patient position and image quality criteria.
The conformities and non-conformities found were recorded and used to establish three types of quality control charts: (Fig. 1) the proportion of conformities and non-conformities (p chart); (Fig. 2) the total number of non-conformity exams (np chart) and (Fig. 3) the total number of non-conformities in...
Results
A sample of 750 chest CT examinations were grouped into 30 smaller samples,
each one with 25exams.
Considering all examinations,186 (24,80 %)were considered as non-conform exams and 564 as conformity.
We established that 24,80%of examinations were considered as non-conformity exams by presenting one or more non conformity.
A total of 265 non-conformities were identified (Fig. 4) and the "absence of data relating to examination" presentedthe highest number of non-conformities (55,09%),
followed by the group "image quality criteria" (17,36 %),
“artefacts” (13,96%) and the "incorrect positioning"...
Conclusion
This research allowed the identification of different types of non-conformities found in chest CT images,
which have impact on image quality.
Therefore,
theexistence of suitable quality control of the image is essential to achieve high quality standards in CT departments.
It is recommendable to do training coursesregularly improving radiographer’s performance and strategies to improve image quality in CT must be implemented.
Personal information
Rita Carrasquinho (BSc),
Collaborator in the Medical Imaging and Radiotherapy Department,
Health School - University of Algarve,
Portugal.
Anabela Ribeiro (PhD),
Professor in the Medical Imaging and Radiotherapy Department,
Health School - University of Algarve,
Portugal.
Researcher in CICS.NOVA.UÉvora (Interdisciplinary Centre of Social Sciences – Évora Centre) and Member of the Studies Center in Healthcare (CES-ESSUALG).
E-mail:
[email protected]
Luís Ribeiro (PhD),
Professor in the Medical Imaging and Radiotherapy Department,
Health School - University of Algarve,
Portugal.
Researcher in CIDAF - University of Coimbra (Centro de...
References
1.Augusto,
F.M.
(2009).
Estudo da Qualidade da Imagem e índices de dose em tomografia computadorizada.
(Dissertação de Mestrado).
Universidade Federal do Rio de Janeiro.
2.Bushong,
S.
C.
(2001).
Radiologic science for technologists.
7ª edição.
USA: Mosby.
3.Cândido,
S.
(2012).
Controlo de Qualidade da Imagem Radiológica Digital.
(Dissertação de Licenciatura).
Escola Superior de Saúde da Universidade do Algarve.
4.Cândido,
S.,
Ribeiro,
A.
M.,
Ribeiro,
L.
P.,
Abrantes,
A.
F.,
Pinheiro,
J.
P.,
Almeida,
R.
P.,
& Azevedo,
K.
B.
(2013).
Image Quality Control in Digital Radiology....