Controle de qualidade nos equipamentos de raios X móveis de um hospital universitário de grande porte

Abstract

Quality assurance in diagnostic radiology presupposes that a periodic verification of the technical parameters of the radiological equipment is performed by means of quality control procedures. Considering that many radiological studies are performed in hospital beds with a mobile X-ray equipment during the diagnosis and/or follow-up of the clinical evolution of patients, the confirmation of the appropriate functioning of such equipment is essential só that radiation exposures are minimized and quality examinations are obtained. Thus, the objective of the present study was to evaluate the quality and operation of 10 mobile X-ray machines belonging to a large university hospital, as well as to verify the influence of different brands/models of equipment on the performance indicators, through the execution of quality control tests as indicated in the Brazilian legislation. The following tests were applied: entrance skin dose, tube potential accuracy and reproducibility, exposure reproducibility, tube performance, exposure linearity, exposure time accuracy and reproducibility, half-value layer, X ray– light beam alignment and centring, utilizing methodologies described in protocols and guidelines for quality control in diagnostic radiology. The evaluations occurred according to the tolerance values provided by Normative Instruction n.ᵒ 90/2021, and 8 of the 10 machines showed conformity in all tests. The two remaining machines manifested nonconformities in the light and radiation fields’ congruence when evaluated according to the established tolerance criteria, requiring repair services. In the comparison between the performances obtained by the different brands/models, it was observed in some of the compared tests a better performance of the Philips devices in relation to Shimadzu and Siemens. Finally, it is generally concluded that the mobile X-ray machines evaluated in this study, regardless of the types of manufacturers, presented good conditions of operation and use, being in accordance with the sanitary legislation in force in Brazil.