Topics covered in this article include:

• Introduction
• Measurement Summary
• Instructions
• Available Tests
• Detailed Discussion of Measurements

Introduction

The Somatom quality constancy check  provides a PDF report that can be imported into a schedule. Refer to the manufacturer's documentation for instructions and placement of the provided phantom.

Measurement Summary

The analysis provides the following results:

• Lightmarker Tests

• Topogram Position

• Slice (Typical Head Mode)

• Slice (Typical Body Mode)

• Constancy Difference From Center (Typical Head Mode)

• Constancy Difference From Center (Typical Body Mode)

• Constancy Water Value (Typical Head Mode)

• Constancy Water Value (Typical Body Mode)

• Constancy Noise (Typical Head Mode)

• Constancy Noise (Typical Body Mode)

• MTF (Typical Head Mode)

• MTF (Typical Body Mode)

• MTF (Sharpest mode (without option UHR))

• Contrast

• Low Contrast

• Table Position

The measurements are completely automated, requiring the user only to drag and drop the PDF(s) into the web-based software interface. A detailed report is created.

Instructions

The test requires a PDF.  Refer to the reference manual from the manufacturer for details on exporting the PDF file. It is necessary to use the file naming convention or to select "Somatom Daily QA PDF Import" in the Type field in the upload widget to identify the phantom. If using the filename to identify the image, use "somatom_constancy" somewhere in the file name. Below is an example of selecting the image type in the upload widget:

Add files to the upload queue by drag them from a Windows Explorer folder to the drag and drop folder and release them. Alternatively, by clicking on the Add Files button to the lower right of the control, a windows file selection dialog will open, and files can be selected for upload. Under either method, multiple files may be selected for upload at once.

If the automatic upload checkbox is checked (the default), then file uploading will start immediately as files are added.

If the automatic upload button is turned off, the file upload process must be started manually by clicking the Start upload button on the lower right of the control. To clear the upload queue, click the Clear button.

Once file series have been uploaded, they will be displayed below the upload control. To remove a series from the queue, click the Cancel button beside the series. To start processing, click the Start Processing button. A description for the image series can be added at this point. Click the Edit button next to the series. Type a description for the series into the text box that appears below Description, and either click Save or press the enter key. The description can also be edited after the images have been processed. Descriptions will appear in the report with the analysis of the series. 

While files are being processed, users may perform other tasks such as data entry.

Available Tests

The following tables show the tests to select in the template builder corresponding to the supported analyses.

Detailed Discussion of Measurements

Below is an example of the report generated: