Quality evaluation in diagnostic radiology: computer simulation for half-value layer investigation

Author(s)

Marcelo Andrade da Costa Vieira

• Document type: Master's Dissertation
• Press: São Carlos.
• Institution: Universidade de São Paulo (USP). Escola de Engenharia de São Carlos (EESC/SBD)
• Defense date: 1999-08-13

Examining board members

Homero Schiabel; Yvone Maria Mascarenhas Hornos; Regina Bitelli Medeiros

• Advisor: Homero Schiabel

Abstract

The half-value layer (HVL) is defined as the thickness of an absorbing material which placed under an X-Ray beam reduces its intensity to half. It is a parameter that should be periodically evaluated in medical radiology quality control programs because it gives information related to the radiographic system beam performance. However, its measurement is done normally at the center of the radiation field, not taking into account the beam relative quality variation along the field, caused essentially by the heel effect. Bearing that in mind, the present work proposes a computer simulation algorithm to determine the radiographic systems HVL at any location on the field based on a single measurement at the central area, to allow a more complete evaluation of the beam quality variation due to the object location on the image plane. Furthermore, from these results, another computer simulation procedure is proposed to determine particular filter characteristics to compensate these image quality variations caused by the heel effect and also by the X-rayed object thickness variation. The results obtained from the simulation programs are consistent with the experimental results performed in medical radiographic systems, confirming therefore the validity of the proposed algorithms. (AU)