Method and apparatus of determining a radiation dose quality index in medical imaging

A non-transitory computer-readable medium which includes instructions for measuring radiation dose exposure and image quality in an imaging examination on a patient, comprising:

• retrieving patient information from a database, and displaying said patient information on a display;
• compiling radiation iatrogenic risks to the patient using a processor;
• utilizing decision support to obtain comparative data from said database to determine examination selection, said decision support including retrieving from said database and displaying on said display, additional information regarding report findings and radiation data attributable to prior imaging studies;
• deriving radiation dose exposure and carcinogenesis risk to the patient utilizing said decision support additional information, using said processor;
• deriving estimated radiation dose exposure to the patient for the imaging examination, including patient-specific data, using said processor;
• receiving an inputted selection of an imaging examination based upon said derivation of estimated radiation dose exposure;
• creating an optimal imaging examination protocol of said imaging examination to maximize radiation dose reduction, image quality and diagnostic accuracy, using said processor;
• and
• displaying said optimal imaging examination protocol on said display, based upon a derived host institution technology, staffing, and performance data, using said processor;
• wherein said optimal imaging examination protocol includes acquiring a test image using standard/default acquisition parameters, introducing noise into said test image, determining a minimum quality threshold (MQT) of image quality, calculating acquisition parameters for the imaging examination, performing the imaging examination, and determining an examination specific radiation dose quality index.

A computer system which for measuring radiation dose exposure and image quality in an imaging examination on a patient, comprising:

• at least one memory which contains at least one program comprising the steps of:
• retrieving patient information from a database, and displaying said patient information on a display;
• compiling radiation iatrogenic risks to the patient using a processor;
• utilizing decision support to obtain comparative data from said database to determine examination selection, said decision support including retrieving from said database and displaying on said display, additional information regarding report findings and radiation data attributable to prior imaging studies;
• deriving radiation dose exposure and carcinogenesis risk to the patient utilizing said decision support additional information, using said processor;
• deriving estimated radiation dose exposure to the patient for the imaging examination, including patient-specific data, using said processor;
• receiving an inputted selection of an imaging examination based upon said derivation of estimated radiation dose exposure;
• creating an optimal imaging examination protocol of said imaging examination to maximize radiation dose reduction, image quality and diagnostic accuracy, using said processor;
• and
• displaying said optimal imaging examination protocol on said display, based upon a derived host institution technology, staffing, and performance data, using said processor;
• and
• wherein said optimal imaging examination protocol includes acquiring a test image using standard/default acquisition parameters, introducing noise into said test image, determining a minimum quality threshold (MQT) of image quality, calculating acquisition parameters for the imaging examination, performing the imaging examination, and determining an examination specific radiation dose quality index;
• and
• a processor which executes the program.