Quality Control of Digital Radiography Systems Using an Innovative Phantom Quality Control Device for Community Hospitals: Banthaen Hospital, Chaiyaphum Province

Abstract

         Quality control of general diagnostic X-ray systems in community hospitals often faces budget limitations in procuring standard medical phantoms. This constraint may lead to discontinuity in quality surveillance and radiation safety management. This study aimed to develop and evaluate the performance of an innovative medical phantom for quality control of digital radiography systems in the context of community hospitals. The study was conducted at Ban Thaen Hospital, Chaiyaphum Province. The developed phantom was fabricated from polymethyl methacrylate (PMMA), which has radiation attenuation properties comparable to human tissue. The device was manufactured using computer numerical control (CNC) machining combined with laser cutting technology. The phantom consists of several test components designed to evaluate key image quality parameters, including geometric accuracy, low-contrast resolution, image uniformity, and dynamic range. Technical performance was assessed by comparison with a standard medical phantom (RaySafe Pro-Digi Phantom). Image analysis was performed using ImageJ software, and user satisfaction was evaluated by experts from the Medical Sciences Center and actual users. The results demonstrated that the developed phantom met the standards of the Department of Medical Sciences and the Quality Standards for Digital Radiography (QSDR). The percentage error of image uniformity (% U_error) was 1.49%, which was below the acceptable standard limit (< 10%) and comparable to the standard device. In addition, the developed device has a lower production cost than commercially available equipment. User satisfaction was rated at the highest level (mean score = 4.63), mainly due to its ease of use and practical design. In conclusion, the developed medical phantom demonstrates high performance, reliability, and cost-effectiveness. It is suitable for community hospitals to perform routine quality control of diagnostic X-ray systems independently, thereby enhancing radiation safety standards and supporting sustainable radiological quality assurance.