Assessment of X-ray field congruence and beam perpendicularity testing for diagnostic equipment by medical physicists and radiographers in various hospitals in Albania

This study aimed at investigating the challenges facing the implementation of some quality control (QC) tests by medical physicists and radiographers for different diagnostic devices used in Albania. Light field-X-ray field congruence and beam perpendicularity tests results performed for 23 radiography and 10 fluoroscopic systems during a routine QC procedure are included in this study. Different measurement procedures are introduced using a collimator test tool, beam alignment - cylinder test tool, Leeds Test Objects' FLUORO-4 phantom and coins. Analysis of the results showed that only 83 % of the radiography devices evaluated in this study were within acceptable criteria for the light and X-ray field misalignment test while 91 % for the perpendicularity test. All fluoroscopic systems were within acceptable criteria for both tests. Most of the radiology devices included in this study were not under a regular QC program by radiographers due to inadequate training and unavailable test tools. We addressed these specific needs to the hospital managers, recommending to them appropriate training and involvement of radiographers in implementing the QC program in their department as well as the use of the coin method for X-ray beam alignment testing as a very simple method with no cost.