Introduction The challenge of a changing economy and increasing pressure in healthcare for optimal performance while dealing with limited resources and maintaining the high quality levels of medicine is becoming increasingly difficult. There is increasing demand for quality improvement to…
Current and Traditional Definitions of Quality in Healthcare How do we best define quality in healthcare? The quality literature includes several definitions. The Institute of Medicine (IOM) defines quality of care as the degree to which health services for individuals…
Concepts for Quality Improvement Quality improvement (QI) methods are not new; they are just relatively new to the healthcare industry and the field of radiology. As a result, there is currently a gap between the high desire and need to…
To Err is Human When the Institute of Medicine (IOM, now the Academy of Medicine) first released its report, To Err Is Human , in 1999, headlines were made throughout the world. The notion that our healthcare delivery system was…
X-Ray Physics Production of X-Rays X-Ray Tube ( Fig. 14.1 ) An x-ray tube is an energy converter receiving electrical energy and producing heat and X-rays. For a diagnostic x-ray tube operating at 100 peak kilovoltage (kVp), the production of…
X-Ray Contrast Agents Iodinated Contrast Agents Classification Iodinated contrast agents can be classified based on osmolarity (high, low, or iso) and ionitiy (ionic or nonionic). A variety of iodinated contrast agents have been developed and are distributed by different manufacturers.…
Pulmonary Imaging Radiopharmaceuticals Pulmonary scintigraphy uses ventilation agents and/or perfusion agents, depending on the specific imaging task. Overview Agent Half-life Main Energy Collimator Comments Ventilation 133 Xe 5.2 days 81 Low Inexpensive; washout images helpful 99m Tc DTPA aerosol 6 hr…
Respiratory Tract Upper Airway Approach Inspiratory stridor is the most common indication for radiographic upper airway evaluation. The main role of imaging is to identify conditions that need to be treated emergently and/or surgically (e.g., epiglottitis, foreign bodies). Technique: 1…
First Trimester General Reference All ages in this section refer to the menstrual age or gestational age (GA) based on the last menstrual period (LMP) and not the embryonic age based on day of conception. A 4-week pregnancy by the…
Mammography Mammography Techniques Mammography is primarily a screening and not a diagnostic tool. The mediolateral oblique (MLO) and craniocaudal (CC) views are standard screening views, whereas additional views described below are used mainly for diagnostic evaluation of lesions. Mammographic Views…