Quality assurance and radiation protection in diagnostic radiology
The European Commission has published a series of manuals dealing with the optimization of radiation protection, of both the patient and staff, in diagnostic radiology. A new link has been established between the quality of the diagnostic information obtained through the radiographic image and the dose to the patient. This link has been described by quality criteria. These cover the diagnostic requirements, the criteria for the dose to the patient and a set of technical and physical parameters necessary to obtain satisfactory results for image quality and dose. A major contribution of these quality criteria, prepared in collaboration with radiological departments in hospitals, clinics and practices all over Europe, is the introduction of the reference dose value. The reference dose value is not only the departure point for optimizing the radiation protection of the patient and the staff, but it can also play the role of a yard stick for correct imaging performance of the available radiological equipment. The four manuals currently available in this series are as follows: - European guidelines on quality criteria for diagnostic radiographic images (EUR 16260 EN); - European guidelines on quality criteria for diagnostic radiographic images in paediatrics (EUR 16261 EN); - European protocol on dosimetry in mammography (EUR 16263 EN); - Quality criteria for computed tomography; Working Document (EUR 16262 EN).