Field trial of an automated quality assurance program for CT scanners

A field trial of an automated quality assurance program for CT scanners utilizing a personal computer has been under way for several months. This paper reports on setting up the program and the initial results of automatically analyzing CT image quality parameters including spatial resolution, noise, uniformity, low contrast, CT linearity, section widths, and relates aspects of CT performance. Trends in short-term and long-term performance are analyzed against a backdrop of preventive maintenance records and overall system performance. A brief discussion is given of developments at both the voluntary and regulatory levels for a future CT quality assurance program