Evaluation of basic parameters of real-time diagnostic ultrasound systems

Introduction: Today, diagnostic ultrasound imaging is utilized immensely, vast utilization of this method in clinic necessitate the implementation of a quality control program for diminishing diagnostic errors. Materials and Methods: In this study, by using the test object and proposed performance protocol, Seventy nine real time ultrasound system have been evaluated in different hospitals in Tehran. The ultrasound systems were selected have evaluated randomly and evaluated in aspect of quality control essential parameters. Results: The results were compared to AAPM (American Association of Physicists in Medicine) recommended values. The data showed that of total tested equipments 20.3% in dead zone, 64.6% in depth measurements, 54.4% in horizontal measurements, 19.0% in axial resolution, 12.7% in lateral resolution, 20.2% in focusing number and 30.4% in uniformity had no performance as compared to AAPM recomended values. Conclusions: These results showed that the maximum error was related to lateral and depth measurements and least error was related to lateral resolution. The presence of these considerable errors highlighted the neccessity of performing a comprehensive quality control program routinely for real-time diagnostic ultrasound imaging equipments.