Meuwly J Y
Service de radiodiagnostic et radiologie interventionnelle CHUV, Lausanne.
Ther Umsch. 1997 Jan;54(1):37-43.
Because of the lack of resources, which is getting more and more important, the control of quality is becoming an important consideration in the health system. The ultrasound as a cheap and easily available tool is no exception in this consideration. The control of the technical quality must follow certain considerations, which must be anchored in the daily usage. This is especially important if we want to evaluate the effect of the ultrasound diagnostic on the further development of the patient, the general health status, the quality of life of a certain population with large-scale epidemiologic studies. If the interpretation and indication of ultrasound should be part of medical knowledge and training, the technical quality control should also be part of the basic duties regularly done. The technical quality is the first part of the chain of the diagnostic by ultrasound. The slightest disturbance will certainly have consequences in the following steps of the treatment of the patient. The evaluation of the quality must contain a control of the security of the technical equipment available, of the spatial and contrast resolution of all the ultrasound transducers as well as a control of the monitor. Testing of the resolution can be done with a specially designed simulator/phantom, equipped with special marks permitting the measuring of the axial, lateral and transversal resolution, this simulator is also used in planimetry to evaluate the region of the optimal resolution and the geometrical reproduction. These controls must be done regularly, and the data received must be stored. Only with such a regular control we can guarantee the quality of the technical equipment and installations.
