An Approach To The Establishment Of Technique/Exposure Ranges In Diagnostic Radiology

The Federal Food and Drug Administration (FDA) is considering development of exposure recommendations for diagnostic radiology. This paper describes one aspect of this effort: the determination of technique/exposure ranges corresponding to the range of acceptable radiographs for three commonly employed projections - P/A chest, A/P abdomen and A/P lumbosacral spine. The Radiology Departments of nine Manhattan medical facilities will each provide 100 cases for each projection for patients in the thickness range of 21-25cm. Data collected for each of these 2700 radiographs will include: patient x-ray technique (kVp, mAs), patient thickness, image receptor data (film, screen, grid), patient entrance exposure, beam HVL, focal spot size, image system speed and contrast, and the radiologist's assessment of radiographic quality. The design of the study and preliminary data will be presented. The study will be completed in 1981.