Clinical Analysis of Image Quality and Technical Protocols for Special Radiologic Procedures

Abstract

In diagnostic radiology, the images pattern employ an interaction of many factors and the ideal balance is to obtain an image, which is adequate for the clinical purpose with the minimum radiation dose. To guarantee adherence to preference standards of quality, image quality criteria recommended by the Commission of European Communities (CEC, 1996) have been used for good radiography practice and the assessment of images globally. The aim of this study was to address the insufficiencies outlined by exploring the level of image quality variation across a number of hospitals in Sudan for a variety of common specific radiologic examinations to experience the level of matching to CEC guidelines in Sudan hospitals, analyze the image quality of special radiologic procedures and to compare the findings with worldwide standards. This study was carried out in nine major hospitals radiology department in Khartoum between 2012 and 2015. A subjective evaluation of 1183 Images reproduction out of 363 special radiologic procedures including Intravenous Urography (IVU), Hysterosalpingography (HSG), GIT Barium Studies and Voiding cystourethrography ( MCUG). For each procedure, ESAK values were recorded. The researcher set image quality criteria scoring system for each projection, where two assessors reviewed the films in terms of compliance with the CEC recommendations, they were asked to give a graded response of the quality of the imaged structures mentioned in the criteria. The patients involved in this study distributed 99 (27.2%) patient for IVU, 47 (12.9%) patients for MCUG, 95 (26.1%) patients for Barium Studies and 122 (33.6%) patients for HSG. The frequent of cases between hospitals were 23 (6.3%) cases for Khartoum hospital, 31 (8.5%) cases for Omdurman hospital, 9 (2.5%) cases for Bahry hospital, 35 (9.6%) cases for Souba hospital, 61 (16.8%) cases for Ribat hospital, 70 (19.3%) cases for Military hospital, 53 (14.6%) cases for Fedail hospital, 56 (15.4%) cases for Royal Care hospital and 25 (6.9%) cases for Sudan Diagnostic Centre (SDC) hospital. The films were distributed as 354 (29.9%) films