Improve X-ray images using quality assurance tests

Abstract

In this research, entrance surface doses of patients which are resulted from a classical radiograph in most widespread tests (Chest, skull, abdomen, limbs, …) have been measured with selected instruments in (Specialized surgeries hospital) and one of the private clinic in Baghdad, the instruments are of various origins and different make date. A group of patients (10 patients) for each test and according the average of the resulted doses. Comparison of the patient’s doses, in this research, has been close with the reliable International standards and it has been found that radiological doses are bigger than reference doses ranging (132–1.79) in most of the appliance and the range doses to one whenever the instrument is new and the radiographer has good experience, this increase relates to several functions discussed in the research in detail For the importance of the quality assurance of x-ray instruments, three tests have been performed by three of the instruments only, and these tests are :Beam Alignment test : The Beam Alignment was measured and the x-ray radiograph was found symmetrical round the two axes of the instruments (A, B) but it is about 3 ° away from the vertical axis of the instrument (C).Optical and Radiation Field Congruence Test: The light field coincides with the radiative field in a and b and their mismatch in c.Focal Spot Size Test: The radiation focus area was measured by the star tool and what appeared is that the focus of the x-ray instrument (C) is smaller than the international standards on the contrary of the focus area of the x-ray instrument (E) which is identical with the international standards.From these results reached is that the instruments (A, B) have passed quality assurance tests and they are suitable for work in the present, but the instrument (C) has not passed most of the quality assurance tests, so this instrument should not be used for medical tests This in research is considered the first one for these instruments to evaluate their doses or measure a quality assurance.