Quality Assessment of Ultrasonographic Equipment Using an ATS-539 Multipurpose Phantom.
10.3348/jkrs.2008.58.5.533
- Author:
Pyo Nyun KIM
1
;
Joo Won LIM
;
Hyun Cheol KIM
;
Young Cheol YOON
;
Deuk Je SUNG
;
Min Hoan MOON
;
Jeong Sook KIM
;
Jong Chan KIM
Author Information
1. Department of Radiology and Research Institute of Radiology, University of Ulsan College of Medicine, Korea. pnkim@amc.seoul.kr
- Publication Type:Original Article
- Keywords:
Ultrasonography;
Equipment;
Phantom;
Quality control;
Quality assessment
- MeSH:
Korea;
Quality Control;
Transducers
- From:Journal of the Korean Radiological Society
2008;58(5):533-541
- CountryRepublic of Korea
- Language:Korean
-
Abstract:
PURPOSE: To determine the rate of congruence and to standardize assessment of US (ultrasound) phantom images with the use of an ATS-539 multipurpose phantom for US equipment currently utilized in Korea MATERIALS AND METHODS: US phantom images were scanned with a 3.0-5.0 MHz convex transducer and were digitized by use of an analogue-digital converter. Members of a committee with consent evaluated the US phantom images from 108 types of ultrasound equipment. The dead zone, vertical and horizontal measurement, axial/lateral resolution, focal zone, sensitivity, functional resolution and gray scale/dynamic range were evaluated. Congruence or incongruence of ultrasound equipment was determined based on the results of dead zone, axial/lateral resolution and gray scale/dynamic range measurements. Other factors were evaluated for the possibility as criteria with the use of the Mann-Whitney U test and receiver operator characteristic (ROC) curve analysis. RESULTS: The dead zone, axial/lateral resolution and gray scale/dynamic range were 91.7%, 94.4% and 76.9%, respectively, for suitable US equipment. Considering all three factors, 78 types of ultrasound equipment were passed. The congruence rate of focal zone and functional resolution were 62.4% and 69.3% of the US equipment, respectively. CONCLUSION: Of the US equipment, 72.2% of the equipment was acceptable based on the dead zone, axial/lateral resolution, and gray scale/dynamic range measurements as determined with the use of an ATS-539 phantom. Focal zone and 8 mm-functional resolution can be useful as a standard in the assessment of a US phantom image.
