[CT Quality Control Test from the Second Level 2nd Class Hospitals in Shanghai]

Area of Science:

• Medical Imaging Physics
• Radiological Technology Assessment

Background:

• CT scanners are crucial diagnostic tools in hospitals.
• Ensuring CT scanner performance quality is vital for accurate diagnoses.
• Previous assessments of CT scanner quality in Shanghai's private and secondary hospitals are limited.

Purpose of the Study:

• To evaluate the current performance quality of CT scanners in Shanghai's Second Level 2nd Class and private hospitals.
• To identify the primary factors contributing to CT scanner performance degradation.

Main Methods:

• Referenced the Specification for Quality Assurance Test for Computed Tomography X-ray Scanners (GB 17589—2011).
• Tested 62 CT scanners across 59 hospitals.
• Evaluated parameters including high-contrast resolution, low-contrast detectability, CT number of water, noise, and uniformity.

Main Results:

• Mean high-contrast resolution: 6.8 lp/cm.
• Mean low-contrast detectability: 2.4.
• Mean CT number of water: 3.0 HU.
• Mean noise: 0.43%.
• Mean uniformity: 2.3 HU.
• Only 32% (20 out of 62) of CT scanners met quality control standards.

Conclusions:

• A significant majority of CT scanners in the studied hospitals do not meet quality standards.
• Equipment aging and insufficient preventive maintenance are the primary causes of CT scanner performance decline.
• Urgent interventions are needed to improve CT scanner maintenance and quality control in these healthcare facilities.