Chest radiography: a survey of techniques and exposure levels currently used.

Abstract

In diagnostic radiology, the routine measurement of exposure levels for a reference patient were estimated is an important part of an effective quality assurance program. In the USA chest radiography is the most frequent examination and has the lowest exposure level of all radiologic examinations. The amount of exposure an average patient received from both manual and automatic exposure-controlled radiographic techniques [and personnel] by using a patient-equivalent chest phantom during measurements. A sensitometric procedure was used to assess processor performance. The mean exposure from 194 chest systems was 20 mR (5.16 .times. 10-5 C/kg); the mean film density, 1.38; and the mean processing speed, 108. A wide range of radiographic techniques, processing conditions and screen-film speeds are currently being used. With the information given in this study, investigators can begin to identify the problems that lead to unusual exposure levels and, perhaps, poor image quality.