(1) Department of Medical Physics, Westmead Hospital, P.O. Box 533, Westmead, Wentworthville, NSW, 2145, Australia;(2) Department of Radiology, Westmead Hospital, Westmead, Australia
Abstract:
A retrospective study of digital chest radiography was performed to compare the image quality and dose parameters from two
X-ray rooms in different areas of the same hospital using identical X-ray units but different local protocol for obtaining
chest PA and lateral radiographs. Image quality of radiographs was assessed from the printed films using well established
European guidelines and modified criteria. Patient entrance surface air kerma was calculated using technical data recorded
for each radiograph and measured output of the X-ray unit. Effective dose and dose to radiosensitive organs was estimated
using dose calculation software PCXMC. There was no statistical significant difference in the evaluated image quality using
either technique, median entrance surface air kerma to the patient reduced significantly with added filtration technique and
use of normal density setting. Phantom measurements indicated that an additional filtration of 0.1 mm Cu + 1 mm Al in the
X-ray beam alone reduced the entrance surface air kerma by 35%.