IMPACT OF RADIOGRAPHIC IMAGING CRITERIA ON DOSE AND IMAGE QUALITY IN INFANTS IN AN EC-WIDE SURVEY

This EC-wide study surveyed the X ray equipment and the radiographic t echniques used for seven frequent paediatric roentgen examinations in 89 departments of clinics and hospitals in 11 EC countries. Of the sev en examinations investigated only skull AP/PA and chest AP/PA for a 10 month old infant will be reported here. Entrance surface dose (ESD) f or these examinations was measured using CaF, thermoluminescence dosem eters. The data were analysed based on recommended guidelines for good radiographic technique and image quality criteria as defined in the C EC Working Document 'Quality Criteria for Diagnostic Radiographic Imag es in Paediatrics'. A panel of eight paediatric radiologists rated the image quality of the original X ray films on the basis of above menti oned quality criteria. The analysis for all seven examinations showed that adherence to the guidelines on radiographic technique can lead to drastic and statistically significant reduction in ESD without any lo ss in image quality.