Carlos Alberto Vanegas Prieto

Image Retake Analysis in Digital Radiography Using DICOM Header Information

A methodology to automatically detect potential retakes in digital imaging, using the Digital Imaging and Communications in Medicine (DICOM) header information, is presented. In our hospital, neither the computed radiography workstations nor the picture archiving and communication system itself are designed to support reject analysis. A system called QCOnline, initially developed to help in the management of images and patient doses in a digital radiology department, has been used to identify those images with the same patient identification number, same modality, description, projection, date, cassette orientation, and image comments. The pilot experience lead to 6.6% and 1.9% repetition rates for abdomen and chest images. A thorough analysis has shown that the real repetitions were 3.3% and 0.9% for abdomen and chest images being the main cause of the discrepancy being the wrong image identification. The presented methodology to automatically detect potential retakes in digital imaging using DICOM header information is feasible and allows to detect deficiencies in the department performance like wrong identifications, positioning errors, wrong radiographic technique, bad image processing, equipment malfunctions, artefacts, etc. In addition, retake images automatically collected can be used for continuous training of the staff.

Physical image quality comparison of four types of digital detector for chest radiology.

Image quality for similar exposure conditions has been compared for two computed radiography (CR) systems (needle-based and conventional storage phosphor) and two flat-panel (DR) systems from different manufacturers mainly devoted to chest radiology. Image quality was assessed with a contrast-detail object and acrylic material to simulate clinical conditions. Specific image evaluation software was used to measure the contrast and obtain an image quality figure. Phantom and detector incident air kerma were measured for all images. Image quality differences were significant, and in the range of 100-300 microGy (phantom incident air kerma) the needle-based CR system and one of the DR systems show similar image quality and they are quite superior when compared with the conventional CR system.

Criteria to optimise a dynamic flat detector system used for interventional radiology

An analysis of the relationship between image quality and incident air kerma has been carried out for a dynamic flat detector X-ray system used for interventional radiology. A phantom of polymethyl methacrylate (PMMA) to simulate patients and two different image test objects, Leeds TOR 18FG and NEMA XR 21, were used to evaluate the quality of the obtained images. Measurements were made simulating clinical configuration with different PMMA thicknesses (16, 20, 24 and 28 cm), available fields of view of 22, 31, 42 and 48 cm (diagonal dimension), in the three default fluoroscopy modes and in one of the most used digital subtraction angiography image acquisition modes. The obtained results are being used to help in the optimisation of clinical procedures.

Paediatric entrance doses from exposure index in computed radiography.

Over the last two years we have evaluated paediatric patient doses in projection radiography derived from exposure level (EL) in computed radiography (CR) in a large university hospital. Entrance surface air kerma (ESAK) for 3501 paediatric examinations was calculated from the EL, which is a dose index parameter related to the light emitted by the phosphor-stimulable plate, archived in the Digital Imaging and Communications in Medicine (DICOM) header of the images and automatically transferred to a database using custom-built dedicated software. Typical mean thicknesses for several age bands of paediatric patients was estimated to calculate ESAK from the EL values, using results of experimental measurements with phantoms for the typical x-ray beam qualities used in paediatric examinations. Mean/median ESAK values (in microGy) for the age bands of <1 year, 1-5 years, 6-10 years and 11-15 years have been obtained for chest without a bucky: 51/41, 57/34, 91/54 and 122/109; chest with a bucky (for only the last three age bands): 114/87, 129/105 and 219/170; abdomen: 119/91, 291/225, 756/600 and 1960/1508 and pelvis: 65/48, 455/314, 943/707 and 2261/1595. Sample sizes of clinical images used for the (indirect) measurements were 1724 for chest without a bucky, 799 for chest with a bucky, 337 for abdomen and 641 for pelvis. The methodology we describe could be applicable to other centres using CR as an imaging modality for paediatrics. Presently, this method is the only practical approach to automatically extract parameters contained in the DICOM header, for the calculation of patient dose values for the CR modality.

Dose assessment during the commissioning of flat detector imaging systems for cardiology

Incident air kerma (IAK) and entrance surface air kerma (ESAK) have been measured for a range of copper (Cu) absorbers (1-10 mm) and polymethylmethacrylate (PMMA) slabs (12-28 cm) with kilovolt values ranging from 61 to 120 during the commissioning of an X-ray system equipped with a flat detector used in interventional cardiology procedures. Numerical parameters on image quality have also been measured for different X-ray beam qualities using the plastic wall of the ionisation chamber. When moving from 1 to 10 mm of Cu, IAK per frame increased to a factor of 38 for cine and 27 for fluoroscopy. A cine frame requires 60-116 times more IAK than a fluoroscopy frame. As for PMMA, when the backscatter factor is included (simulating real conditions with patients), and when moving from 12 to 28 cm, the increases in ESAK are 16 times for cine and 10 times for fluoroscopy. Because of the differences in X-ray beam quality for cine and fluoroscopy modes, the Cu thicknesses necessary to drive the generator to equivalent kilovolts resulted in the following values (cine and fluoroscopy, respectively): 12 cm of PMMA (1 and 1.5 mm Cu), 20 PMMA (2.5 and 3.5 mm Cu) and 28 cm PMMA (4.5 and 8.5 mm Cu). With the analysis of IAK, ESAK and image quality, one can verify the appropriate settings of the X-ray system and obtain baseline information for constancy checks and help cardiologists in the management of patient doses by knowing the dose increase factors and image quality changes when increasing patient thickness or using different C-arm projections.

Pathological effects of pulmonary vein β-radiation in a swine model

Introduction: Atrial fibrillation (AF) may be triggered by ectopic beats originating in sleeves of atrial myocardium entering the pulmonary veins (PVs). PV isolation by means of circumferential ostial or atrial radiofrequency ablation is an effective but also a difficult and long procedure, requiring extensive applications that can have serious potential complications. Our objective was to examine pathological effects of PV β‐radiation, particularly the ability to destroy PV myocardial sleeves without inducing PV stenosis and other unwanted effects, in order to establish its potential feasibility for the treatment of AF.

Monte carlo parametric study of stent impact on dose for catheter-based intravascular brachytherapy with 90Sr/90Y.

The radiation treatment of catheter-based beta-emitter sources is being used to prevent restenosis following interventional coronary procedures. We present the results of a Monte Carlo calculation study to assess the dosimetric impact in the vessel tissue due to the presence of the stent. A catheter-based beta-emitter system is modeled using the Monte-Carlo code MCNP4B. Dose distributions are calculated in annular voxels (0.050 x 0.025 mm2 section) along the axis of a 40 mm. 90Sr/90Y source with and without the stent (at a distance of 1.5-3.0 mm from the longitudinal axis of the source). The main results include: (a) a clear difference between the local perturbation just behind the strut and a more general perturbation seen deeper into the vessel tissue; (b) the local perturbations disappears at a depth of 300-400 microm while the more general perturbation affects the tissue in its full thickness including the prescription point; (c) in the local perturbation the maximum impact is determined mainly by the material and the thickness of the strut while the spatial attenuation of this impact is defined mainly by the strut width; (d) in the general perturbation, the most important magnitude is the free-area ratio for the path of the electrons, being the material characteristics and strut thickness of secondary importance; (e) analytical expressions are presented to estimate the magnitude of this perturbation according to the complete characteristics of the expanded strut, i.e., thickness, free-area ratio, and material; and (f) a simple algorithm is presented for estimating the free-area ratio when this information is not available.

Increases in patient doses need to be avoided when upgrading interventional cardiology systems to flat detectors.

The aim of this study was to evaluate patient doses in two interventional cardiology laboratories over a period of 1 y in which the imaging devices were changed from image intensifier (II) to flat detector (FD). Dosimetric data from a total of 1040 coronary angiography (CA) procedures and 1087 percutaneous transluminal coronary angioplasty (PTCA) procedures were gathered. During the period studied with II imaging, median values of dose area product were 28 Gy cm(2) for CA and 57 Gy cm(2) for PTCA. In the first half of the year with FD imaging, median values were 37 Gy cm(2) for CA and 89 Gy cm(2) for PTCA. A significant increase in patient doses was noticed in the early stages of use of FD technology for imaging IC procedures, while fluoroscopy time and number of images remained similar. A careful setting of the X-ray systems, after upgrading the imaging system, is essential to avoid unjustified increases in patient doses.

Experience in retake analysis for digital mammography at a university hospital

Data from one digital mammograph (flat detector active area of 19.2 × 23 cm(2)) were collected over a 1-year period using locally developed software in order to evaluate retakes, their rates, their causes and the possible measures to reduce their occurrence. Among them, 7.1 % of the images were marked as repetitions, and in 16 % of the studies, at least one image was repeated. When evaluating causes of retakes, the primary cause was incorrect positioning (49 %), closely followed by additional retakes in cases of large breasts (44 %). When dealing with large breasts and using a small flat panel, additional images were necessary to fully visualise the breast, and as a consequence, some breast regions received repeated radiation exposure. Moreover, a small detector increases retakes in breasts slightly wrongly positioned. To try and reduce the retake rate, it is important to plan training sessions based on images selected from the retake analysis.