Quality Control Assessment of Conventional Radiology Devices in Iran
Introduction Quality control (QC) techniques are used in monitoring and maintenance of the components of an x-ray system. QC of radiology devices plays a significant role in reduction of medication dose and optimization of image quality. This study aimed to conduct QC tests on randomly selected radi...
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| Format: | Article |
| Language: | English |
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Mashhad University of Medical Sciences
2017-03-01
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| Series: | Iranian Journal of Medical Physics |
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| Online Access: | http://ijmp.mums.ac.ir/article_8402_38e0e6039ea22b76e83b188201be4a56.pdf |
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| author | Mohsen Asadinezhad Mohammad Taghi Bahreyni Toossi Ali Ebrahiminia Masoumeh Giahi |
| author_facet | Mohsen Asadinezhad Mohammad Taghi Bahreyni Toossi Ali Ebrahiminia Masoumeh Giahi |
| author_sort | Mohsen Asadinezhad |
| collection | DOAJ |
| description | Introduction Quality control (QC) techniques are used in monitoring and maintenance of the components of an x-ray system. QC of radiology devices plays a significant role in reduction of medication dose and optimization of image quality. This study aimed to conduct QC tests on randomly selected radiology devices, installed in diagnostic imaging departments of Iran. Materials and Methods In total, quality control tests were conducted on 51 conventional radiology devices installed in 20 cities of Iran in order to assess the accuracy of peak kilovoltage (kVp), exposure time, exposure linearity and reciprocity, reproducibility of exposure and determination of half-value layer (HVL) using a calibrated Mult-O-Meter. Results In this study, 38.6% of devices had intolerable variance of kVp accuracy. The results of 34.5% of devices were out of the acceptable limits in exposure time accuracy test. In 46.7% and 53.1% of devices, variance was greater than the acceptable range for exposure linearity and exposure reciprocity, respectively. In terms of reproducibility of exposure test, the reproducibility variance and percentage of tube output variations in 19.4% of devices exceeded the limits. Moreover, the thickness of first HVL was lower than the acceptable limit in 14.7% of devices. Conclusion According to the results of this study, there were wide variations in QC test results, perhaps mainly due to the fact that it is not an obligation to implement QC programs in Iran. The most important problems were non-reciprocity of exposure, nonlinearity of exposure with milliampere-second (mAs), kVp and timer inaccuracy. Involvement of medical physicists, radiologists and radiographers in the implementation of QC programs at various stages of development, installation and use of equipment should enable the gradual improvement in equipment performance. |
| first_indexed | 2024-12-11T21:40:23Z |
| format | Article |
| id | doaj.art-99843b1ec591452fb6631ee54f82f993 |
| institution | Directory Open Access Journal |
| issn | 2345-3672 2345-3672 |
| language | English |
| last_indexed | 2024-12-11T21:40:23Z |
| publishDate | 2017-03-01 |
| publisher | Mashhad University of Medical Sciences |
| record_format | Article |
| series | Iranian Journal of Medical Physics |
| spelling | doaj.art-99843b1ec591452fb6631ee54f82f9932022-12-22T00:49:51ZengMashhad University of Medical SciencesIranian Journal of Medical Physics2345-36722345-36722017-03-011411710.22038/ijmp.2017.19052.11738402Quality Control Assessment of Conventional Radiology Devices in IranMohsen Asadinezhad0Mohammad Taghi Bahreyni Toossi1Ali Ebrahiminia2Masoumeh Giahi3Department of Radiology Technology, School of Paramedical Sciences, Mashhad University of Medical SciencesProfessor of Medical Physics, Mashhad University of Medical Sciences, Mashhad, IranAssistant professor of medical physics, Biochemistry and Medical Physics Dept., School of Medicine, Guilan University of Medical Sciences, Rasht, IranStudent of Radiology Technology, Department of Radiology Technology, School of Paramedical Sciences, Mashhad University of Medical Sciences, Mashhad, IranIntroduction Quality control (QC) techniques are used in monitoring and maintenance of the components of an x-ray system. QC of radiology devices plays a significant role in reduction of medication dose and optimization of image quality. This study aimed to conduct QC tests on randomly selected radiology devices, installed in diagnostic imaging departments of Iran. Materials and Methods In total, quality control tests were conducted on 51 conventional radiology devices installed in 20 cities of Iran in order to assess the accuracy of peak kilovoltage (kVp), exposure time, exposure linearity and reciprocity, reproducibility of exposure and determination of half-value layer (HVL) using a calibrated Mult-O-Meter. Results In this study, 38.6% of devices had intolerable variance of kVp accuracy. The results of 34.5% of devices were out of the acceptable limits in exposure time accuracy test. In 46.7% and 53.1% of devices, variance was greater than the acceptable range for exposure linearity and exposure reciprocity, respectively. In terms of reproducibility of exposure test, the reproducibility variance and percentage of tube output variations in 19.4% of devices exceeded the limits. Moreover, the thickness of first HVL was lower than the acceptable limit in 14.7% of devices. Conclusion According to the results of this study, there were wide variations in QC test results, perhaps mainly due to the fact that it is not an obligation to implement QC programs in Iran. The most important problems were non-reciprocity of exposure, nonlinearity of exposure with milliampere-second (mAs), kVp and timer inaccuracy. Involvement of medical physicists, radiologists and radiographers in the implementation of QC programs at various stages of development, installation and use of equipment should enable the gradual improvement in equipment performance.http://ijmp.mums.ac.ir/article_8402_38e0e6039ea22b76e83b188201be4a56.pdfQuality ControlDiagnostic X-RayRadiology |
| spellingShingle | Mohsen Asadinezhad Mohammad Taghi Bahreyni Toossi Ali Ebrahiminia Masoumeh Giahi Quality Control Assessment of Conventional Radiology Devices in Iran Iranian Journal of Medical Physics Quality Control Diagnostic X-Ray Radiology |
| title | Quality Control Assessment of Conventional Radiology Devices in Iran |
| title_full | Quality Control Assessment of Conventional Radiology Devices in Iran |
| title_fullStr | Quality Control Assessment of Conventional Radiology Devices in Iran |
| title_full_unstemmed | Quality Control Assessment of Conventional Radiology Devices in Iran |
| title_short | Quality Control Assessment of Conventional Radiology Devices in Iran |
| title_sort | quality control assessment of conventional radiology devices in iran |
| topic | Quality Control Diagnostic X-Ray Radiology |
| url | http://ijmp.mums.ac.ir/article_8402_38e0e6039ea22b76e83b188201be4a56.pdf |
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