Abstract
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Objectives PET camera calibration, image reconstruction and data analysis may significantly alter the measured SUV. In the United States PET/CT quality control should be in accordance with the ACR technical standards. However, currently there are no regulations that require PET/CT centers to adhere to a standardized QC procedure unlike Europe and Australia. Considering the impeccable value of standardizing quality control procedures we conducted a survey of multiple PET/CT sites in an attempt to identify and analyze trends of quality control procedures implemented by multiple PET/CT centers.
Methods Online survey was sent to PET/CT centers in the mid Atlantic region to evaluate quality control practices, with emphasis on the most common QC procedures, required by accreditation agencies. The survey was answered by chief or in charge technologist on site. Descriptive analysis and binary compliance model were used to evaluate the level of adherence to ACR standards. We attributed “0” for each of the tested QC procedure which was not followed (or less frequently than regulated) and “1” if it was followed.
Results 10 ACR certified PET/CT facilities responded to the survey, 80% representing hospital based or out-patient practices with a volume of 500-3000 scan per year. All centers have written QC guidelines, but in 20% of cases the guidelines were other than ACR standards. Only 60% of centers certified to QC results to the accreditation agencies. A high variability was noted amongst PET/CT centers in following daily QC procedures: 20% for clocks synchronization, 80% for dose calibrator, 60% for blank scans and 40% for water phantoms. A complete descriptive analysis is displayed in Table 1. Compliance score average was 5.2 (range 2-8).
Conclusions Quality control guidelines appear to be variably followed and sometimes inaccurately implemented across ACR certified facilities.