Radiographic image quality assessment utilizing a stepped calibration target

A radiographic image quality assessment system comprising:

• a film cassette having a calibration target with a series of differentially attenuating regions, the cassette being adapted for holding a sheet of film during exposure of an examination target, the calibration target, and the sheet of film to radiation,
• means for developing the exposed sheet of film so as to form a radiograph having visible radiographic images of the examination target and of the calibration target,
• means for reading the visible radiographic image of the calibration target with light and providing a quantitative signal as a function of optical density representing the image of the calibration target,
• means for receiving and analyzing the signal with respect to reference criteria associated with the film and indicative of an optimal signal pattern, and
• means for indicating whether the signal meets the reference criteria.

A method for quantitatively assessing the image quality of a radiographic image of an examination target, the method comprising:

• directing a beam of radiation simultaneously through a calibration target having a series of differentially attenuating regions and an examination target and onto a film,
• developing the film so as to convert the film into a radiograph having visible radiographic images of the calibration target and of the examination target,
• reading the radiographic image of at least the calibration target with light and providing a quantitative signal as a function of optical density representing the image,
• receiving and analyzing the signal corresponding to the radiographic image of the calibration target with respect to reference criteria associated with the film and indicative of an optimal signal pattern, and
• indicating whether the signal meets the reference criteria.

A method for quantitatively assessing the image quality of a radiographic image of an examination target, the method comprising:

• directing a beam of radiation simultaneously through a calibration target having a series of differentially attenuating regions and an examination target and onto a storage phosphor screen to form latent images of the calibration and examination targets,
• reading the latent image of at least the calibration target with light and providing a quantitative signal as a function of optical density representing the image,
• receiving and analyzing the signal corresponding to the image of the calibration target with respect to reference criteria associated with the phosphor screen and indicative of an optimal signal pattern, and
• indicating whether the signal meets the reference criteria.