Quality control in automated processors and dose evaluation in pediatric examinations

• Grant number: 06/02315-5
• Support Opportunities: Scholarships in Brazil - Scientific Initiation
• Start date: December 01, 2006
• End date: August 31, 2007
• Field of knowledge: Health Sciences - Medicine - Medical Radiology
• Principal Investigator: José Morceli
• Grantee: Eros Duarte Ortigoso Carbi
• Host Institution: Faculdade de Medicina (FMB). Universidade Estadual Paulista (UNESP). Campus de Botucatu. Botucatu , SP, Brazil

Abstract

Nowadays it is still a hard task to specify the role of medical physicists in a hospital service, mainly in the radiodiagnostic area, where legally it is not requested the presence of this professional. However, in the last years, professionals with good performance in the area has demonstrated the importance of their work and the benefit that a service can obtain when these professionals work together with the medical, engineers and technician team, with responsibility and ability. The recent improvements in radiology are related with the development of new systems of radiographic image acquisitions that make possible an increase in the quality, with low dose and/or risk for patients. The quality of the image is related with factors as quality of the rays-X beam, thickness of the anatomical region to be radiographed, screen-film system used and conditions for the processing of the radiographic film. The last one is considered the heart of a Quality Control Program (QCP). Significant variations in the processing system can influence directly in the quality of the image, can provoke repetitions of the radiographic examination, causing a bigger dose for the patient. Therefore a special attention has to be dedicated to the factors that can influence in the system of processing radiographic films. The main purpose of this work is to monitor the involved parameters in the process of variation of the automatic processing of radiographic films, evaluating their daily values and its influence of the processing in the base plus veil level of the processing system, speed and average gradient of the used films. Also the tax of rejection of films will be monitored, considering the possible relations with specific problems of the automatic processing. In addition, the surface entrance doses of pediatric patients in dynamic examinations will be monitored, as well as that for persons who performing the professional procedure. Finally, it is important to point out that this study is part of the research developed in the Clinic Hospital of Medicine Department (Botucatu- UNESP) for the implementation of a Quality Control Program in the image for diagnose sector.