QUALITY ASSURANCE PROGRAM APPLIED TO MOBILE C-ARM FLUOROSCOPY SYSTEMS

The importance of quality assurance (QA) of X-ray equipment in diagnos tic imaging departments is well recognised. However, practically no at tention has been paid in the literature to the application of QA progr ammes to mobile C-arm fluoroscopy systems. This equipment is sometimes omitted from these programmes because it is often ''off-site'' from t he main radiological facility and suitable QA protocols are unavailabl e. The need for QA can be substantiated by the fact that these systems are finding greater clinical use in orthopaedic, vascular and cardiac applications. Hence, there is a growing awareness: among users for th e need of good image quality and low patient radiation dose. In view o f this, the objective of this study was to review the existing literat ure, design a suitable QA protocol for this equipment and use it to su rvey 10 C-arms in clinical use. The protocol was designed to address m echanical and electrical safety in addition to radiation safety and im age quality. Results indicate substantial performance differences betw een systems with significant variations in input air kerma rate to the image receptor. The authors believe that such a protocol is necessary with a view to establishing optimal performance levels and assist in the development of suitable ''write-off'' criteria for such systems.