ACR accreditation: The gold standard in Radiological QA
16th October 2024
At a glance
> The importance of Quality Assurance to offset the effects of image degradation in MRI scanners is well understood in radiology.
> Imaging phantoms accredited by the American College of Radiology are considered to be the gold standard for routine QA.
> Diagnomatic’s Pro-MRI ACR Large and Medium phantoms now have accreditation, allowing radiologists to accurately assess the performance of their scanners.
Mitigating MRI degradation
Over time, MRI scanners degrade with extensive use, leading to issues such as image artifacts, reduced signal quality, or even equipment failure. Every radiologist understands the importance of Radiological Quality Assurance (QA) to stay ahead of these challenges, ensuring that machines are properly calibrated, tested, and maintained. But how can you be confident that the imaging phantoms used to test your MRI scanners are reliable and accurate?
Accreditation by the American College of Radiology (ACR) is considered to be the gold standard, as it recognises the quality of a phantom, allowing radiologists to determine a true likeness when standing in for human tissue. Diagnomatic’s Pro-MRI ACR Large imaging phantom now has ACR accreditation, demonstrating its reliability when performing routine MRI QA.
Assessing key QA imaging parameters
With this accreditation, radiologists know that the Pro-MRI ACR Large delivers results that can be trusted to accurately assess the performance of their scanners, allowing radiation doses to be kept as low as reasonably achievable (ALARA). Proper calibration helps reduce unnecessary exposure while still obtaining the necessary diagnostic information. This is an essential aspect of worker and patient safety, allowing imaging departments to comply with guidelines such as IRR17 (Ionising Radiations Regulations 2017).
The Pro-MRI ACR Large allows radiologists to quickly and effectively assess key QA parameters, such as signal-to-noise ratio (SNR), spatial resolution, image uniformity, and more. Additionally, it can be used to measure absolute values for calibration purposes, ensuring that the MRI system is functioning at optimal levels, providing radiologists with the data they need to make informed decisions about equipment performance.
Find out more
You can learn more about the Pro-MRI ACR Large imaging phantom by clicking the button below to speak to a product specialist directly.