SELECTED IMAGE QUALITY PARAMETERS IN A SURVEY USING A TEST PHANTOM INRADIOLOGICAL DEPARTMENTS AND OFFICES IN THE FEDERAL-REPBULIC-OF-GERMANY

Quality assurance in paediatric radiology concerns in part equipment a nd imaging parameters. A prospective survey of such parameters in 190 radiology departments of childrens' hospitals and private offices in t he Federal Republic of Germany was made in the period spanning 1988-19 92. Seven frequent paediatric X ray examinations were chosen for this study. Entrance surface dose was measured using a special device. A te st plate was used to evaluate objective film quality. The films were e xposed together with a Teflon phantom (absorption characteristics of a 10 month old infant). The standard department settings were used. A p reliminary analysis on selected film quality parameters for only the s kull AP and chest AP/PA will be reported. The following aspects are an alysed: (a) alignment of light field with the X ray field; (b) X ray b eam perpendicularity; (c) optical density of the film and (d) low cont rast detectability. The survey is representative of actual paediatric roentgenography in the FRG. There were a considerable number of films of poor image quality and films with excess field size. The latter poi nt in particular has special significance for patient dose of the youn g infant. This study again emphasises the necessity for quality assura nce measures. There is a need for further studies in these. as well as in older age groups. Similar surveys should be performed to investiga te mobile equipment, as well as non-automatic exposure techniques.