Image quality assessment in digital radiography systems- A Pehamed FLUORAD A+D phantom study

Introduction: The use of digital radiography systems has become more common all around the world. Ideal situation in radiography is to maximize the image quality while minimizing the patient dose. The purpose of this study was to compare image quality and radiation dose in different digital radiography systems. Materials and Methods: Images of Pehamed FLUORAD A+D phantom in five different tube voltage (50, 60, 70, 75, 80kVp) and five tube current of (100, 250, 360, 400, 560mA) in four different digital radiography systems were obtained. Three images were acquired in each imaging parameters. Image quality parameters (contrast resolution (CR), spatial resolution(SR) and contrast noise ratio(CNR)) were measured for each image. The number of low contrast object as a scale of CR and the number of resolution lead bar pattern as SR were considered. CNR of each image was determined with imageJ software. Dose area product (DAP) which was displayed during acquisition of each image: was recorded.   Results: Image quality parameters (CR, SR, and CNR) as well as DAP were significantly different between different digital systems. It was shown that all four quantities increased with increasing exposure parameters in all systems. At fixed CR of 4 and CNR of 25, DAP value obtained in SEDECAL system was lower than others (p≤0.05)(Fig. 9) and at fixed SR of 3.36(lp/mm), DAP values in SEDECAL and Applem- R302/A were lower than two other systems (p≤0.05). Conclusion: The results of this investigation can be taken into consideration in the selection and purchasing of new systems in order to preserve patients as well as radiographers from unnecessary dose consistent with the radiation protection principle ALARA.