Report of an image quality and dose audit according to Directive 97/43/Euratom at Spanish private radiodiagnostics facilities

An audit of Spanish private medicine radiodiagnostics facilities has been c arried out, based partly on Spanish legislation relating to European Direct ives on health protection against ionizing radiation risks in medical expos ure. The study included an appraisal of infrastructure and equipment, and a spects of quality assurance and radiation protection, by means of data coll ected through surveys. Of the 51 centres audited, a sample of 24 X-ray room s was chosen, then an external evaluation with regard to image quality and patient dose was performed, by an advisory board of radiologists and medica l physicists. The methodology used was similar to that of the group of Euro pean Union experts in European dose evaluation and image quality trials. Ch est, abdomen, lumbar spine and breast examinations were monitored. Doses we re measured with thermoluminescent dosimeters. A third of the X-ray rooms e valuated reached or exceeded dose reference values, and in a third of the c ases the image quality left considerable room for improvement. Breast and c hest examinations showed themselves to be the hardest to perform, not only as a result of exceeding the reference doses, but also due to failure to me et good image quality standards.