In plain language
In a phantom-based audit of 34 Italian interventional X-ray systems, dose and image quality varied widely, even between identical models. Systems with advanced noise reduction lowered dose while keeping image quality. Staff dose was not measured.
At a glance
- Type of study
- Original research, Phantom or simulation study
- Who was studied
- Phantom or simulation (no people)
- Size
- n = 34 X-ray systems (26 fixed angiographic, 8 mobile C-arm)
- Where
- Italy
- Summary based on
- the abstract
What it found
Image quality and patient entrance dose varied widely across systems and protocols, including among identical models.
Higher dose per frame generally improved image quality metrics, with exceptions such as digital subtraction angiography (DSA) cine mode.
Systems with advanced noise-reduction algorithms reduced dose while preserving image quality.
Limiting spatial resolution assessment showed high inter-observer agreement.
Key figures: weighted Fleiss Kappa = 0.82
A standardized phantom-based audit across six medical physics centers was feasible, yielding 133 valid TCDD and 129 LSR datasets from 136 dosimetric sessions.
Key figures: 136 sessions; 133 TCDD; 129 LSR
Limits to keep in mind
Phantom-based measurements of patient entrance dose and image quality only; no staff dose or clinical image quality was measured. Pilot audit limited to 34 systems in Italy.
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- National UK Survey of Radiation Doses During Endovascular Aortic Interventions (2023, Retrospective cohort study)
- Radiation protection practices in diagnostic and interventional cardiology: Position paper from Portuguese Association of Interventional Cardiology (2025, Guideline or consensus statement)
- Radiation Safety in Chronic Total Occlusion Percutaneous Coronary Intervention (2025, Narrative review)
- Radiation Protection in Interventional Radiology (2022, Narrative review)
How this summary was made
ORSIF prepared this summary with AI assistance from the abstract of the paper. A program then checked that the passage supporting each finding appears word for word in that source. A person has not yet reviewed each summary, so read the original before relying on a number. ORSIF summarizes research and does not endorse any product or company. Report a problem with this summary.
Prepared November 3, 2026.