Article

Quality management and certified medical physicist’s role in radiology for radiation dose optimisation: a literature review until 2024

¹ Laboratory of Health Sciences and Technologies, Higher Institute of Health Sciences, Hassan 1 st University, Settat, Morocco
² Department of Radiology, Public Hospital, Mediouna, Morocco
³ Laboratory of Electronic Systems, Information Processing, Mechanics and Energetics, Faculty of Sciences, University Ibn Tofail Kenitra, Kenitra, Morocco

^* Corresponding author: sekkat.isss@uhp.ac.ma

Received: 7 May 2024
Accepted: 4 July 2024

Abstract

This review aims to propose effective steps for optimizing radiation doses in radiology, covering both diagnostic and interventional aspects, and to explore associated challenges in dose optimization and quality assessment in radiological departments, emphasizing the role of certified medical physicists. Evidence for cancer risk from radiation doses below 100 mSv remains limited, with only a small but significant increase observed in a 70-year follow-up of Hiroshima and Nagasaki A-bomb survivors, underlining ongoing scientific debate. Through a rigorous selection process, 67 relevant articles/reports covering the period from 1982 to 2024 were selected from databases like PubMed, Scopus, and Web of Science after screening titles and abstracts and evaluating full-text articles meeting inclusion criteria. Advancements in digital radiography, mammography, fluoroscopy, and interventional radiology have reshaped imaging techniques. Traditional methods, augmented by digital tools and algorithms, helps optimize radiation exposure and image quality. Innovations such as ultra-low-dose imaging in mammography aim to enhance cancer detection with reduced radiation. Optimization in fluoroscopy and interventional radiology involves a sophisticated strategy, considering both equipment protocols and operator behavior. Collaboration between medical physicists and optimization teams aligns protocols with equipment functionality. ISO-defined quality management principles guide the establishment of quality in radiology departments through components like quality control and assurance. Dosimetry helps monitor equipment performance and help estimate individualized radiation dose, ensuring patient safety. Medical physicists might lead the development and supervision of performance indicators, helping in the evaluation of departmental performance. . Collaborative initiatives and emerging technologies, including artificial intelligence, reinforce the ongoing journey of dose optimization in radiology. These strategies will shape the future of radiological imaging, enabling personalized patient care and advancing the understanding of health and disease. Haut du formulaire