DOI: 10.1148/radiol.2321020397
Nationwide Evaluation of X-ray Trends Survey of Abdomen and Lumbosacral Spine Radiography1
David C. Spelic, PhD,
Richard V. Kaczmarek, MS and
Orhan H. Suleiman, PhD
1 From the Center for Devices and Radiological Health, Division of Mammography Quality and Radiation Programs, U.S. Food and Drug Administration, 1350 Piccard Dr, HFZ-240, Rockville, MD 20850. Received April 3, 2002; revision requested June 12; final revision received January 22, 2004; accepted March 3. Address correspondence to D.C.S. (e-mail: david.spelic@fda.hhs.gov).
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Figure 1. Schematic diagram shows the geometry of radiation exposure measurement with the phantom during the NEXT surveys. The results of phantom validation studies (16) showed that an essentially backscatter-free measurement (typically with less than 2% backscatter) was achievable with this configuration. PMMA = polymethyl methacrylate.
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Figure 2. Schematic diagram of the image quality test tool shows the specifications of the holes and mesh patterns. The holes are 8 mm in diameter, and the mesh patterns are approximately 15 x 15 mm. Values inside the squares indicate the mesh count.
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Figure 3. Bar graph shows the distributions of skin-entrance air kerma values (free in air) for abdomen examinations at hospitals and nonhospitals in the 1995 survey. Mean ± SD was 2.8 mGy ± 1.6 for hospitals and 3.0 mGy ± 2.0 for nonhospitals.
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Figure 4. Bar graph shows the distributions of background optical density values measured with the phantom for abdomen examinations at hospitals and nonhospitals. Bin range is x-axis tick label ± 0.20. Mean ± SD was 1.72 ± 0.48 for hospitals and 1.77 ± 0.69 for nonhospitals.
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Figure 5. Bar graph shows the distributions of percent contrast values for abdomen examinations at hospitals and nonhospitals. Mean ± SD was 2.5% ± 0.9 for hospitals and 2.9% ± 1.4 for nonhospitals.
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Figure 6. Bar graph shows the correspondence of percent contrast to background optical density values measured with the phantom for abdomen examinations. Bin range is x-axis tick label ± 0.10.
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Figure 7. Bar graph shows the distributions of image quality mesh scores for abdomen examinations. Mean ± SD was 4.1 ± 0.8 for hospitals and 3.8 ± 1.0 for nonhospitals.
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Figure 8. Bar graph shows the distributions of skin-entrance air kerma values for lumbosacral spine examinations at hospitals and nonhospitals in the 1995 survey. Mean ± SD was 3.3 mGy ± 1.6 for hospitals and 3.2 mGy ± 2.3 for nonhospitals.
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Figure 9. Bar graph shows the distributions of background optical density values for lumbosacral spine examinations at hospitals and nonhospitals. Bin range is x-axis tick label ± 0.20. Mean ± SD was 1.34 ± 0.41 for hospitals and 1.31 ± 0.59 for nonhospitals.
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Figure 10. Bar graph shows the distributions of percent contrast values for lumbosacral spine examinations at hospitals and nonhospitals. Mean ± SD was 3.2% ± 1.4 for hospitals and 3.7% ± 1.8 for nonhospitals.
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Figure 11. Bar graph shows percent contrast at various background optical density levels for lumbosacral spine examinations. Bin range is x-axis tick label ± 0.10.
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Figure 12. Bar graph shows the distributions of image quality mesh scores for lumbosacral spine examinations at hospitals and nonhospitals. Mean ± SD was 3.8 ± 1.0 for hospitals and 3.3 ± 1.0 for nonhospitals.
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Figure 13. Bar graph shows the distributions of film processing speeds at hospitals and nonhospitals in the 1995 survey. Bin range is x-axis tick label ± 5. Mean ± SD was 98 ± 14 for hospitals and 92 ± 24 for nonhospitals.
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Figure 14. Bar graph shows the distribution of values for darkroom fog optical densities measured at hospitals and nonhospitals during the 1995 survey. Mean was 0.09 for hospitals and 0.12 for nonhospitals.
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Figure 15. Bar graph shows the distributions of percent contrast values for lumbosacral spine examinations at facilities with processing speeds of less than 80 (low) and facilities with processing speeds greater than or equal to 80 (normal).
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Copyright © 2004 by the Radiological Society of North America.
