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Quality control and phantom scintillographic measurements to check the condition of data-visualisation equipment
BLÁHOVÁ, Jana
In its theoretical part, this work is concerned with the equipment and devices used within the nuclear-medicine quality assurance programme, in particular gamma-camera, as well as acceptance and operational tests the purpose of which is to verify parameter compliance in reference to the values determined during the equipment acceptance tests. Special attention is paid to the signal detection quality, activity measurement correctness and precision, the factors influencing the same and the measurement errors. To avoid incorrect interpretation of erroneous measurements results, continuous quality control is required for the instruments intended to detect ionising radiation. Another subject of the theoretical part is quality of the visualisation technique where the poor quality of the final image may result from incorrect setting and/or failures of the visualisation equipment. The final section of the theoretical part reviews the existing fixtures and radiation sources used in calibration and testing of the image properties of scintillation cameras {--} the so-called phantoms. The target of this work is verification of the basic parameters stability of two gamma-cameras and demonstration of the importance of regular scintillographic measurements for the medical examination quality. The practical part of this work is focused on comparison regarding parameter stability of two Siemens SPECT cameras, model E.CAM of different manufacturing dates. Subject to verification were the basic equipment parameters normally tested within the standard operation stability and quality assurance programmes. The measured values have been arranged in tables and shown in graphs, and subject to statistical processing. The results of this work will be used in working out the operational standards for the nuclear medicine department of Faculty Hospital in Lochotín in Plzeň, and may serve as reference data in decision on replacement of outdated equipment and devices.
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