AbstractID: 7489 Title: Image Quality and Radiation Doses for Automated Fluoroscopic Imaging Systems
Modern fluoroscopy systems are often entirely automated and computer controlled.
The selection menu for the various procedures is based upon the examination type,
anatomical region and patient size. Often, without the input of the physicist, a
vendor’s applications specialist in conjunction with the radiologists programs the
equipment options that are employed during fluoroscopy into the system. These
programmed selections directly impact upon the measured typical patient radiation
levels and the clinical image quality.
The goal of this presentation is to explore the various automated modes on a new
fluoroscopic system and to examine the influence of these parameters upon the
patient radiation doses and image quality. Some of the parameters, which shall be
reviewed, include: variable x-ray beam filters, Automatic Brightness Control (ABC)
programs, starting kVp levels, fluoroscopic pulse rates, automatic gain control/iris
systems, image receptor input dose levels, Field-of-View (FoV), pulse widths, noise
reduction features, image lag, and other factors. Typical measured values of
radiation doses for a range of phantom thickness from 5 to 25 cm of acrylic will be
given. The influence of the various factors upon both the image quality and the
radiation dose will be discussed.
It is recommended that physicists, radiologists and technologists should all
participate in the design of the system selection menu and should understand the
operational characteristics of automated fluoroscopic units. The benefits gained
from optimally functioning automated fluoroscopic units include ease of operation,
better image quality and lower patient radiation doses.