Usefulness of DICOM headers in the analysis of two biplane X-ray systems setting (image intensifier and flat panel) used in pediatric interventional cardiology in Chile

The setting of two biplane X ray systems were evaluated (image intensifier (II) and flat panel (PP)), through DICOM tags from 32 images created during the characterization of both systems. The technical parameters adjusted for systems were: 63,8 to 80,0 kV and 15,0 to 388,0 mA, for the system with II and 52,0 to 77,0 kV and 25,0 to 476,0 mA, for the system with PP detector. Both equipment presented a different mA adjustment, when moving from fluoroscopy modes low dose (FL), medium dose (FM) and high dose (FH) to cine mode (CI). Two dosimetric quantities were evaluated, the first one was the dose-area product (DAP) which gave as a result for FB mode, between 0,03 to 0,35 uGycm2/image (II) and from 0,05 a 0,69 uGycm2/image (PP), when the polymethyl methacrylate (PMMA) thickness was incremented from 4 to 16 cm. In cine mode the DAP quantity showed, percentage values from 24 to -1 % for the same PMMA increment. Skin cumulative dose was the second quantity evaluated and showed an increment of incident air kerma (KAI)/image in factors from 17 to 35 (II) and 15 to 28 (PP) when used in CI mode instead of FB mode, to the different PMMA thicknesses used. This dose increment for CI mode must be considered by cardiologists, to use the fluoroscopic run as an alternative to document part of the procedures when there is no need to use a high quality image (author)