DOSE CREEP IN RADIOGRAPHY (RADIOLOGY)

Radiography, 2018

Introduction: The aim of this article is to give an insight into radiography as a science and a discipline from the viewpoints of knowledge interest and methodological approach and design. Methods: Original articles published in Radiography (n ¼ 184) and the Journal of Clinical Radiography and Radiotherapy (n ¼ 10) at the timeline 2015 to 3/2017 were reviewed for research focus and the methodology used. To abstract the results, thematisation analysis was used. Results: Out of 194 studies analysed, 99 (50%) were found to have a technical, 80 (42%) a practical and 15 (8%) a critical interest of knowledge. The research methodologies used did not rigorously fit into the methodological approach expected on the basis of the interest of knowledge. Conclusion: Radiography as a science seems to have mostly a technical and practical interest of knowledge, but somewhat critical research is also being made. It seems to be a remarkably open and flexible science when it comes to the use of research methodologies. More discussion and research on the science name and paradigm is needed in order to strengthen the scientific status of radiography.

Journal of Medical Imaging and Radiation Sciences, 2008

This article provides some practical tips for dose optimization in computed radiography (CR). The article will not provide a comprehensive list of all factors that could be changed to optimize patient dose in CR examination. This article will also provide specific ...

Radiation Protection Dosimetry, 2014

Since January 2008-de facto 2012-medical physics experts (MPEs) are, by law, to be involved in the optimisation process of radiological diagnostic procedures in Switzerland. Computed tomography, fluoroscopy and nuclear medicine imaging units have been assessed for patient exposure and image quality. Large spreads in clinical practice have been observed. For example, the number of scans per abdominal CT examination went from 1 to 9. Fluoroscopy units showed, for the same device settings, dose rate variations up to a factor of 3 to 7. Quantitative image quality for positron emission tomography (PET)/CT examinations varied significantly depending on the local image reconstruction algorithms. Future work will be focused on promoting team cooperation between MPEs, radiologists and radiographers and on implementing task-oriented objective image quality indicators. In 1997, the European Council Directive 97/43/ EURATOM introduced the implication of medical physics experts (MPEs) in the optimisation process of radiological diagnostic procedures. That recommendation has been translated into the Swiss Radiological Protection Ordinance (RO (1)) and applied officially in 2008, de facto in 2012. This contribution summarises the application methodology, as well as the results, after 1 y of experience. (NB: The Radiological Protection Ordinance is usually abbreviated using RPO, but RO will be used in this text to avoid any confusion with 'Radiation Protection Officer'.

Radiography, 2007

Introduction: The advent of the computed radiography (CR) has brought about remarkable changes in the field of diagnostic radiology. A relatively large cross-section of the human population is exposed to ionizing radiation on account of common radiological investigations. This study is intended to audit radiation doses imparted to patients during common radiological investigations involving the use of CR systems. Method: The entrance surface doses (ESD) were measured using thermoluminescent dosimeters (TLD) for various radiological investigations performed using the computed radiography (CR) systems. Optimization of radiographic techniques and radiation doses was done by fine tuning the work practices. Results and conclusion: Reduction of radiation doses as high as 47% was achieved during certain investigations with the use of optimized exposure factors and fine-tuned work practices.

Biomedical Journal of Scientific & Technical Research, 2018

In radiography, a dose to patients primarily depends on the Entrance Surface Dose (ESD) and the sensitivity of organs which are irradiated during treatment plan...

E' noto che i sistemi DR (Digital Direct Radiography) hanno livelli di efficienza molto alti e, potenzialmente, possono essere impiegati con dosi al paziente più basse rispetto sia alle tecnologie analogiche che a quelle digitali basate su CR. La valutazione dell'efficienza del rivelatore d'immagine è ottenuta normalmente dalla misura del DQE (Detective Quantum Efficiency), mentre il rapporto Segnale/Rumore (SNR) e il NEQ (Noise Equivalent Quanta) sono impiegati per valutare quantitativamente la qualità d'immagine e possono fornire indicazioni sulla dose ottimale da fissare nelle diverse tecniche radiografiche. In letteratura sono presenti svariati lavori che riportano le misure di questi indici, eseguite con qualità standard della radiazione diversa dalla reale componente spettrale impiegata nei fasci "clinici", con geometrie di ripresa ottimali e per pochi valori di dose di riferimento; di conseguenza tali risultati non sempre forniscono indicazioni pratiche per l'ottimizzazione del rapporto qualità/dose. In questo lavoro si sono misurati i parametri fisici di qualità (MTF, NPS, SNR, NEQ, DQE, IDQE), per diverse dosi in ingresso al rivelatore e con fasci di radiazione simili a quelli impiegati negli esami del torace e dell'addome. I sistemi caratterizzati sono due sistemi DR in uso clinico con flat-panel a scintillazione (CsI) e matrice attiva al silicio amorfo: il sistema A con detettore 4-tiled e pixel di campionamento di 0.143mm (Axiom Aristos FX, Siemens), il sistema B con piastra monolitica e pitch di 0.2mm (Revolution XR/d-2, General Eletric).

2005

This is the 12th in the series designed by the American College of Radiology (ACR), the Canadian Association of Radiologists, and the American Journal of Roentgenology. The series, which will ultimately comprise 22 articles, is designed to progressively educate radiologists in the methodologies of rigorous clinical research, from the most basic principles to a level of considerable sophistication. The articles are intended to complement interactive software that permits the user to work with what he or she has learned, which is available on the ACR Web site (www.acr.org).

Radiation Research, 2005

in a Group of Radiologists by the Analysis of Dicentrics and Translocations. Radiat. Res. 164, 612-617 (2005).

Radiologic technology, 2016

To investigate a technique for optimizing radiation dose and image quality for a computed radiography system. Entrance skin doses were measured for phantom models of the pelvis and lumbar spine imaged using the vendor's recommended exposure settings (ie, the reference doses) as well as doses above and below the vendor's recommended settings for both body parts. Images were assessed using visual grading analysis (VGA). The phantom dosimetry results revealed strong positive linear relationships between dose and milliampere seconds (mAs), mAs and inverse exposure indicator (EI), and dose and inverse EI for both body parts. The VGA showed that optimized values of 16 mAs/EI = 136 for the anteroposterior (AP) pelvis and 32 mAs/EI = 139 for the AP lumbar spine did not compromise image quality. Selecting optimized mAs reduced dose by 36% compared with the vendor's recommended mAs (dose) values. Optimizing the mAs and associated EIs can be an effective dose management strategy.

Radiography

The purpose of this paper is to review the literature on exposure technique approaches in Computed Radiography (CR) imaging as a means of radiation dose optimization in CR imaging. Specifically the review assessed three approaches: optimization of kVp; optimization of mAs; and optimization of the Exposure Indicator (EI) in practice. Only papers dating back to 2005 were described in this review. The major themes, patterns, and common findings from the literature reviewed showed that important features are related to radiation dose management strategies for digital radiography include identification of the EI as a dose control mechanism and as a “surrogate for dose management”. In addition the use of the EI has been viewed as an opportunity for dose optimization. Furthermore optimization research has focussed mainly on optimizing the kVp in CR imaging as a means of implementing the ALARA philosophy, and studies have concentrated on mainly chest imaging using different CR systems such ...