Implementing verifiable oncological imaging by quality assurance and optimisation

ended

The objectives of i-Violin satisfy the clearly identified need to optimise and harmonise oncological imaging procedures in Europe and ensure their broad adoption. The current disparities in oncological imaging procedures in Europe are evident from several projects and surveys conducted by the EuroSafe Imaging campaign, which i-Violin can address at the European level to improve cancer care for Europe’s patients. Against the multiple hurdles preventing optimisation of oncological imaging approaches, i-Violin aims to disseminate the image quality assessment tool developed in MEDIRAD for chest CT in hospitals throughout Europe and adjust it for imaging procedures in the abdominal and pelvic regions, for which no satisfactory tool exists. The outcome of available commercial software for evaluating patient-specific dose indicators will be cross-validated against more sophisticated dose-evaluation tools for determining organ doses dependent on patient parameters and image settings as developed for chest CT. Furthermore, only a combination of image-quality assessment and dose evaluation on the same patient images can allow patient- and indication-specific optimisation with respect to patient radiation protection. A European database will be established for CT images resulting from different imaging parameters, corresponding patient dose indicators and image quality indicators, and recommendations will be given for these approaches. European adoption of optimisation measures for image quality assessment and dose evaluation in member states must be fostered through dissemination of i-Violin’s deliverables among hospitals, policy makers, societies and other stakeholders and implementation of education and training activities. i-Violin will contribute to establishing a harmonised and standardised oncological imaging approach, and a targeted education and training programme for radiologists, radiographers and medical physicists will accompany dissemination and foster uptake.