Radiation dose reduction and image quality evaluation for lateral lumbar spine projection

Diego Nocetti; Kathia Villalobos; Nelson Marín; Martina Monardes; Benjamín Tapia; María Ignacia Toledo; Camila Villegas

doi:10.1016/j.heliyon.2023.e19509

Radiation dose reduction and image quality evaluation for lateral lumbar spine projection

Heliyon. 2023 Aug 27;9(9):e19509. doi: 10.1016/j.heliyon.2023.e19509. eCollection 2023 Sep.

Authors

Diego Nocetti¹, Kathia Villalobos¹, Nelson Marín², Martina Monardes², Benjamín Tapia², María Ignacia Toledo², Camila Villegas²

Affiliations

¹ Departamento de Tecnología Médica, Facultad de Ciencias de la Salud, Universidad de Tarapacá, Avenida 18 de septiembre N°2222, 1010069, Arica, Chile.
² Carrera de Tecnología Médica en Imagenología y Física Médica, Facultad de Ciencias de la Salud, Universidad de Tarapacá, Avenida 18 de septiembre N°2222, 1010069, Arica, Chile.

Abstract

Purpose: Optimization studies in digital radiology help to reduce the radiological risk to patients and maximize the benefits associated with their clinical purpose. The aim of this study was to assess the optimization of lateral lumbar spine projection via a combination of exposure parameters adjustments and additional filtration using a sectional anthropomorphic phantom.

Materials and methods: We evaluated the effects of peak voltage, tube loading, and low-cost filters made of copper, titanium, brass, and nickel on both the perceived and physical quality of 125 radiographs obtained in a computer radiography system. Signal-to-noise ratio (SNR) and contrast-to-noise ratio (CNR) with their Figure of Merit (FOM), based on the entrance surface air kerma with backscatter (ESAK), was used to assess physical image quality.

Results: The standard image had a perceived image quality, SNR, FOM_SNR, CNR, FOM_CNR and ESAK of 3.4, 22.3, 386.4, 23.6, 433.7 and 1.28 mGy, respectively. Copper (90.3% purity) and titanium (95.0% purity) filters reduced ESAK by an average of 60% without compromising diagnostic quality, while brass and nickel filters increased dose under the conditions of the study.

Conclusions: Our findings show that optimizing lumbar spine projection can reduce radiation dose without compromising image quality. Low-cost copper and titanium filters can be valuable in resource-limited settings. Further research can explore additional strategies for radiological optimization.

Keywords: Digital radiology; Dosimetry; Image quality; Optimization.