Causes Of Rejected Films In Riyadh Central Hospital Kingdom of Saudi Arabia

Abstract

This study was undertaken to identify the causes of film rejection in five X-ray departments at Riyadh central hospital, Riyadh, Saudi Arabia. In this study, I reviewed the X-ray beam and image formation, radiographic quality and the common causes of film rejection in conventional radiography, these causes such as errors and artifacts. Rejected radiographs of conventional film-screen radiography were collected over one month period then counted and recorded. The rejected radiographs and images were analyzed and categorized into eight groups according to the causes of rejection.

The overall percentage reject rate (8%) obtained in this study slightly high but it is in the acceptable range. In this study it was found that the exposure (30%) and positioning (14%) errors were the main reasons for rejection. The centering errors (12-7%) were the third cause of film rejection, the fourth reason for film rejection was the patient motion (11.8%.). Mechanical influence of equipment and processors was less than 10% and in most departments was negligible. The rest of causes (22-85%) of rejection were due to many other causes they were grouped together as other causes of film rejection. From this result, it was clearly seen that more than 50% of the rejected films was contributed in particular to techniques and skills employed equipment and processors influence was less than 10%. Rejected films may be reduced to the minimum by reducing their causes, by applying effective quality assurance programs, full students' supervision and adequate regular staff training.