QUALITY-CONTROL IN THE RADIOLOGICAL DEPARTMENTS OF THE FLORENCE GENERAL-HOSPITAL

At the Hospital of Careggi in Florence six radiological departments ar e currently active, including a neuroradiology department. All radiolo gical installations, in total exceeding one hundred, have been monitor ed for a quality control programme since 1991. For monitoring purposes radiation leakage, focal spot size, total beam filtration, exposure t ime, tube voltage (kV(p)), radiation output, accuracy of beam limiting devices and spatial resolution of II-Til systems were measured. Where available, tolerance limits established by IEC were used as a referen ce. Five of these parameters were chosen as quality indicators. Poor a greement of the equipment performance with the selected tolerance limi ts appeared in most cases. However, the survey turned out to be effect ive to some extent in improving the compliance with the tolerance limi ts in those departments where a cooperative contact with the radiograp hers and the maintenance staff was established.