Remote and automated QC in radiology – an IAEA approach

Speakers:
1. Virginia Tsapaki 
2. Mohammad Hassan Kharita
3. Mika Kortesniemi

Abstract:

The session will introduce the possibilities and benefits of technical image QA analysis software which facilitates the implementation of automated image QA particularly in remote regions and with limited medical physicist resources and lack of effective QA methods and processes. The presented tools are currently part of the IAEA Coordinated Research Project entitled “Advanced Tools for Quality and Dosimetry of Digital Imaging in Radiology” (E24025). Background motivation for automated and remote QA stems from the legal and regulative requirement to perform systematic quality assurance in diagnostic radiology which is fundamental to secure the consistent quality and safety of medical imaging functions in clinical routine practice, and to gain the full benefits from high-cost medical technology investments. The solution is to utilise a) simple and inexpensive test objects or usage of standard calibration phantoms, b) deploy automated analysis software enabling advanced and comprehensive QA parameter quantification, and c) enable remote QA by networked data sharing, mitigating delays and challenges of limited expert resources. The presented methodology is highly cost-effective saving workload and expert time, and reducing travelling need (further saving of time, costs and CO₂ emissions) allowing more frequent (daily or weekly) image quality monitoring. More information can be acquired from the references.

A sustainable approach to strengthening quality control in radiography and mammography, especially in low- and middle-income countries, involves expanding the implementation of the IAEA Coordinated Research Project by leveraging regional resources such as local phantom production and collaborative training initiatives. This strategy reduces costs and logistical barriers, promotes regional expertise, and encourages cooperation, thereby ensuring high standards of imaging quality and patient safety are upheld across diverse healthcare environments.

References:

1. IAEA, Implementation of a Remote and Automated Quality Control Programme for Radiography and Mammography Equipment, Human Health Series Publication 39, Published 2021, IAEA, Vienna.
2. https://www.iaea.org/projects/crp/e24025
3. Peltonen JI, Honkanen AP, Kortesniemi M. Quality assurance framework for rapid automatic analysis deployment in medical imaging. Phys Med. 2023 Dec;116:103173.

Learning objectives:

• To learn about the possibilities of remote and automated QA analysis which helps to implement technical image QA in remote locations and with limited medical physicist resources.
• To learn about the structure of open-source code-based QA framework and how to implement it.
• To learn about the global experiences on the use of QA framework in various regions, equipment and organisations.
• To understand how utilising regional resources and collaborative frameworks can enhance the scalability and effectiveness of remote, automated quality control programmes for radiography and mammography, particularly in low- and middle-income countries.

Speakers’ Biography：

Dr Virginia Tsapaki is a physicist with Master and PhD in medical physics with more than 34 years of experience in medical imaging, quality and safety. The last 6 years she is working as a Technical Officer in the IAEA DMRP Section in the Human Health Division. She has coordinated more than 120 IAEA technical-cooperation projects supporting education, training, procurement, installation, and service delivery across the world; designed and delivered over 30 multi-day training courses for 800+ participants with 100+ expert lecturers. She has coordinated and co-authored five IAEA guidance documents working with more than 90 expert contributors. Before joining IAEA, she was head of the medical physics department of a large general hospital in Greece. Served for many years as an expert and work-package lead on 10+ EU projects and supported professional/research organizations (IOMP, EFOMP, EUTEMPE, EURAMED, etc). She has over 150 publications in scientific journals and conference proceedings and more than 300 presentations and posters at national and international conferences.

Dr Mohammad Hassan KHARITA is a Medical Physics and Radiation Safety Specialist with deep expertise in establishing and managing effective radiation safety programs, developing national regulatory frameworks, and building emergency response capabilities. He has led major global education and training initiatives in the field. As Acting Executive Director of Medical Physics at Hamad Medical Corporation (HMC), he oversees all medical physics operations in diagnostic radiology and nuclear medicine, as well as radiation safety for HMC’s 16 hospitals. Internationally, he has served as a Radiation Safety Consultant for the IAEA on more than 45 missions. Dr. Kharita holds a Ph.D. in Radiation Dosimetry and an M.Sc. in Applied Radiation Physics from the University of Birmingham, UK.

In addition to his technical and leadership roles, Dr. Kharita is actively involved in various professional organizations. He serves as Treasurer for the International Organization of Medical Physics (IOMP) for the 2025-2028 term, President of the Middle Eastern Federation for Medical Physics (MEFOMP) during the same period and has acted as the Radiation Protection Adviser (RPA) for the Ministry of Environment and Climate Change in Qatar since 2017.

Dr Mika Kortesniemi works as the Chief Medical Physicist and Adjunct Professor at the HUS Diagnostic Center, University of Helsinki and Helsinki University Hospital, Finland. His professional, teaching and research focus is on quality assurance, radiation dosimetry, optimisation and radiation protection in x-ray imaging, especially related to the computed tomography and utilisation of artificial intelligence. Dr Kortesniemi is also actively involved in international collaboration e.g. with IAEA, ICRP, IOMP, EFOMP and ESR.