Performance of medical radiographic X-ray systems in Greece for the time period 1998–2004

Abstract This study presents the results of the on-site inspections performed by the Greek Atomic Energy Commission (GAEC) on conventional X-ray systems, both in public and private medical radiology departments. A part of the inspection concerns the assessment of important radiographic parameters ob...

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Bibliographic Details
Published in:Physica medica 2007-12, Vol.23 (3), p.107-114
Main Authors: Economides, S, Hourdakis, C.J, Kalivas, N, Kalathaki, M, Simantirakis, G, Tritakis, P, Manousaridis, G, Vogiatzi, S, Kipouros, P, Boziari, A, Kamenopoulou, V
Format: Article
Language:English
Subjects:
Advisory Committees - legislation & jurisprudence
Greece
Humans
Private Sector
Public Sector
Quality control
Radiographic systems
Radiography - methods
Radiography - standards
Radiology
Reproducibility of Results
Sensitivity and Specificity
Time Factors
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Summary:Abstract This study presents the results of the on-site inspections performed by the Greek Atomic Energy Commission (GAEC) on conventional X-ray systems, both in public and private medical radiology departments. A part of the inspection concerns the assessment of important radiographic parameters obtained according to a specified quality control protocol and the comparison of the measured parameter values with the corresponding acceptance limits. A total number of 1011 radiographic systems were inspected by the GAEC during the period 1998–2004, with 63.4% of them being privately owned. Analysis of 8 different operational parameters is carried out providing information on the overall performance, as well as on each parameter of the inspected X-ray systems. Tube voltage reproducibility values show the highest percentage of acceptability (98.9%, 99.5% for private and public owned radiographic systems respectively), while linearity of radiation output for private systems (72.5%) and time accuracy for public ones (72.7%) show the worst results. The comparison of the results for the private sector to those of a similar study carried out during the period 1995–1997 indicates a substantial improvement in X-ray systems performance. Higher level of improvement shows exposure time accuracy (12.2% percentile increase) and linearity of radiation output (12.5% percentile increase). Nevertheless, the situation can be further optimized if maintenance and quality control of the radiographic systems are carried out on a more regular basis.
ISSN:1120-1797
1724-191X
DOI:10.1016/j.ejmp.2007.10.001