Comparison of image quality assessments between interventional radiographers and interventional radiologists using digital subtraction angiography

Purpose

The aim of our study was to compare the image quality assessments of vascular anatomy between interventional radiographers and interventional radiologists using digital subtraction angiography (DSA) runs acquired during an interventional radiology procedure.

Approach

Visual grading characteristics (VGC) analysis was used to assess image quality by comparing two groups of images, where one group consisted of procedures in which radiation dose was optimized (group A, n = 10 ) and one group where dose optimization was not performed (group B, n = 10 ). The radiation dose parameters were optimized based on theoretical and empirical evidence to achieve radiation dose reductions during uterine artery embolization procedures. The two observer groups comprised of interventional radiologists ( n = 4 ) and interventional radiographers ( n = 4 ). Each observer rated the image quality of 20 DSA runs using a five-point rating scale.

Results

The VGC analysis produced an area under the VGC curve (AUC VGC ) of 0.55 for interventional radiographers ( P = 0.61 ) and AUCVGC of 0.52 for interventional radiologists ( P = 0.83 ). The optimization of radiation dose parameters demonstrated a reduction in kerma-area product by 35% ( P = 0.026 , d = 0.5 ) and reference air kerma (Ka, r ) by 43% ( P = 0.042 , d = 0.5 ) between group A and group B.

Conclusions

VGC analysis indicated that the image quality assessments of interventional radiographers were comparable with interventional radiologists, where a reduction in radiation dose revealed no effect on both observer groups regarding their image quality assessment of vascular anatomy.