Table Of ContentGuidance Supplement for ACR Computed Tomography Accreditation on a Philips Brilliance 64
ACR Document: Phantom Testing Instructions
It is recommended to have a Philips Preventive Maintenance (PM) service call performed prior to performing the phantom testing; including
laser light alignment, phantom and air calibrations and HCOR. If you are submitting films to the ACR, please be certain that your film
processor is properly calibrated.
Table of Contents:
Guidance Supplement for ACR Computed Tomography Accreditation on a Philips Brilliance 64..........................................................................1
ACR Document: Phantom Testing Instructions....................................................................................................................................................1
Table of Contents:..............................................................................................................................................................................................1
Section 1- Fill out the first two pages of Phantom Scanning Data Form...............................................................................................................3
Section 2. Calibrate Scanner..................................................................................................................................................................................5
Instruction 2 Page, 3 of 16:................................................................................................................................................................................5
Section 3. Ensure proper calibration of Laser Imager...........................................................................................................................................5
Instruction 3, Page 3 of 16:................................................................................................................................................................................5
Instruction 3.3, Page 3 of 16:.............................................................................................................................................................................5
Section 4. Module 1 – Phantom and Scanner Alignment......................................................................................................................................6
Instruction 4.1, Page 4 of 16:.............................................................................................................................................................................6
Instruction 4.2, Page 5 of 16:.............................................................................................................................................................................7
Instruction 4.2, Page 5 of 16:.............................................................................................................................................................................8
Instruction 4.3, Page 5 of 16:.............................................................................................................................................................................9
Instruction 4.6, Page 5 of 16:...........................................................................................................................................................................10
Section 5. Module 1 – CT Number Calibration and Slice Thickness..................................................................................................................12
Instruction 5.1, Page 6 of 16:...........................................................................................................................................................................12
Instruction 5.2, Page 6 of 16:...........................................................................................................................................................................12
Instruction 5.3, Page 6 of 16:...........................................................................................................................................................................14
Instruction 5.4, Page 6 of 16:...........................................................................................................................................................................15
Instruction 5.5, Page 6 of 16:...........................................................................................................................................................................15
Repeat Section 5.3 - 5.5...................................................................................................................................................................................15
Repeat Section 5.3 - 5.5...................................................................................................................................................................................16
Instruction 5.6, Page 6 of 16:...........................................................................................................................................................................16
Instruction 5.7, Page 7 of 16:...........................................................................................................................................................................17
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Instruction 5.8, Page 7 of 16:...........................................................................................................................................................................17
Repeat Section 5.6 - 5.8 for 140kV..................................................................................................................................................................17
Section 6. Module 2 – Low Contrast Resolution.................................................................................................................................................19
Instruction 6.1, Page 7 of 16:...........................................................................................................................................................................19
Instruction 6.2, Page 7 of 16:...........................................................................................................................................................................19
Instruction 6.3, Page 8 of 16:...........................................................................................................................................................................20
Instruction 6.4, Page 8 of 16:...........................................................................................................................................................................20
Section 7. Module 3 – Uniformity and Noise......................................................................................................................................................22
Instruction 7.1, Page 9 of 16:...........................................................................................................................................................................22
Section 8. Module 4 – High-Contrast Spatial Resolution....................................................................................................................................24
Instruction 8.1, Page 9 of 16:...........................................................................................................................................................................24
Instruction 8.2, Page 10 of 16:.........................................................................................................................................................................25
Appendix 1: Frequently Asked Questions...........................................................................................................................................................26
Appendix 2: Film Layout.....................................................................................................................................................................................28
Appendix 3: How to Annotate Images for ACR..................................................................................................................................................30
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Please be aware that we will be referencing the ACR Phantom Testing Instruction Manual and the ACR CT Phantom Site Scanning Data Form
throughout this document - with the document and pertinent page numbers in each section.
Section 1- Fill out the first two pages of Phantom Scanning Data Form
Below is the Product Specifications for the Brilliance 64.
This form correlates with page 1 of 7 on the Phantom Scanning Data Form.
Product Specifications
# ACR Request Brilliance 64
1 CT Manufacturer PHMS Philips
2 Model Name Brilliance CT, 64-channel configuration
3 Site Scanner ID Code
4 Geometry Rotate/Rotate (3rd generation)
5 Spiral/Helical Capability Yes
6 Multi-Slice Capability Yes
Max # of axial images able to be acquired simultaneously in one
rotation (Nmax)
7 [Max # of data channels along the z-axis] 64
0.5 Standard
8 Minimum Time for one tube rotation 0.4 Optional
0.5, 0.55, 0.625, 0.67, 0.8, 0.9, 1.0, 1.25, 1.4, 1.5, 2.0, 2.5, 3.0, 3.5,
9 Slice Thicknesses 3.75, 4.0, 4.5, 5.0, 5.5, 6.0, 6.5, 7.5, 9.0, 10.0, 12.5
10 Available Beam Energy (in kVp) 80, 120, 140
11 Type of Detectors Solid-State
12 Type of Dose Reduction Options Available ACS, Z-Dom, D-Dom
Serial Number of ACR CT Accreditation Phantom used for data
13 collection
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The parameters listed below are examples representing Philips protocols.
Note: It is crucial that the acquisition parameters reported in Table 1 should be representative of the scan protocols used for the site’s routine
clinical scans. These parameters will be used for scanning the image quality and dose phantoms. They should be consistent with the
acquisition parameters used for the clinical exams submitted as part of the accreditation process.
Adult Head High Res Chest Adult Abdomen Pediatric Abdomen
kVp 120 120 120 120
mA / mAs 334 / 500 400 / 200 469 / 300 249 / 140
Time per rotation (s) 1.5 0.5 0.75 0.5
Scan FOV (cm) 500 250 500 500
Display FOV (cm) 250 350 350 300
Reconstruction Algorithm UC L B C
Axial (A) or Helical (H) Axial Axial Helical Helical
Z-axis collimation (T) 0.625 0.625 0.625 0.625
# data channels (N) 16 2 64 64
Table Increment or Table Speed 10 1.2 46.9 35.6
Pitch N/A N/A 1.172 0.891
Reconstructed Scan Width 5 1.25 5 3
Reconstructed Scan Interval 5 1.3 5 1.5
Dose Reduction Technique N/A N/A N/A N/A
Please check the ACR website for current dose recommendations.
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Section 2. Calibrate Scanner
Instruction 2 Page, 3 of 16:
• Perform short tube conditioning and air calibrations.
Section 3. Ensure proper calibration of Laser Imager
The SMPTE pattern is a video display that is used to calibrate the monitor and output from your hard copy camera.
Instruction 3, Page 3 of 16:
• Access the SMPTE pattern by clicking on the “Device List” and selecting the “Demo” button.
• If SMPTE is not available in “Demo”, contact your Field Service Engineer.
• Highlight the “SMPTE test pattern” entry, select “Quick Film.
• Select “Filming” form the left monitor, and select “Print”.
Essential Criteria for SMPTE test pattern
• SMPTE or other video test pattern must be present in the first box of each film sheet.
• The 95% square must be visible (whites must not be saturated).
• The 5% square must be visible (blacks must not be saturated).
• There should be no artifacts or distortions present.
• If the SMPTE image from the monitor does not match the hard copy image, your camera may need to be calibrated.
Note: Use the “Zoom” and “Pan” functions to ensure that text does not overlap or in any way obscures the SMPTE Test Pattern.
Instruction 3.3, Page 3 of 16:
• Select the “Set Number of Display Images” button and select “12 (3x4)”, then “OK”.
• From the “Options” tab in the Filming window, unclick the “Do Not Mix Patients” option.
Note: “Do Not Mix Patients” option is unavailable on EBW 3.0 and later versions. Filming must be done from the scanner.
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Section 4. Module 1 – Phantom and Scanner Alignment
Instruction 4.1, Page 4 of 16:
• This is one of the most important and time consuming part of the process.
Figure 1
• Take the table pad off the table.
• Place phantom on the table. The screw end of the phantom holder should be placed away from the gantry, toward the foot end of the
table. (See Figure 1.)
• Align the top and side lasers to the first white line closest to the foot end. (This is the center of Module 1). The screw on the phantom
holder adjusts the slant of the phantom in the superior and inferior directions so that it may be properly aligned with the lateral lasers.
(Figure 1).
Hint: a level is a great tool to aid in alignment.
• You must take special care when attempting to align the center and lateral phantom lines to CT laser lines (see image above). Carefully
recheck alignment after each small and deliberate movement of the phantom.
• Use the table up/down controls, the rear phantom knob and manual centering, rotating, and skewing movements to align the phantom.
• The white lines on the phantom represent the center of each module.
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• Once aligned, move the phantom into the gantry. Align the internal laser light with the center of Module 1 – the first white line closest
to the foot end.
• Zero the gantry position by pressing the ‘zero’ button on the gantry panels.
Instruction 4.2, Page 5 of 16:
There are 4 modules within the phantom. Each section measures 40mm and has a specific purpose in the phantom testing.
Module 1- Alignment, CT number and slice width (foot end of the phantom)
Module 2- Low contrast resolution
Module 3- Uniformity and noise- Distance accuracy and SSP
Module 4- High Contrast resolution (head end of the phantom)
Detailed descriptions of each Module are found in the Phantom Testing Instructions, page 2 of 16.
The first test for Module 1 is BB and central wire evaluation. There are 4 BB’s. They are located at the top, bottom, and sides of the center of
the Module 1.
The goal in this section is to be able to see all 4 BB’s with similar appearance (equal brightness). Additionally, the central wire of the slice
width ramps (the center of the group of visible wires that is longer than the rest) should be in the center of the other visible wires (+/-1
wire) for both the 12 o’clock (top) and 6 o’clock (bottom) ramps.
There are multiple ways to get the BB’s aligned properly. We describe in this document one method. A quick check for BB alignment may be
done for alignment by acquiring an axial 2.5mm data set using the following parameters. This step allows you to get an approximate
location of the BB’s and see the alignment. Finer alignment modifications can then be performed to get the desired image.
When using the example protocols in this document, please input the parameters in the following order: Collimation, Thickness, Increment,
Cycles, Start, End, then the rest of the parameters. This order will help ensure that the protocol parameters align with the example
protocols.
Scanner Label Start End Length Thicknes Increment kV mAs Cycle Cycles
s Time
BR64 Alignment * 40 2.5 0 120 200 2 1
Resolutio Collimatio Tilt Rotatio FOV Filter Enhancemen Window Window Center Center Matrix
n n n Time t C W X Y
Standard 16 x 2.5 0 0.75 250 B 0 0 1000 0 0 512
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After viewing images, adjust phantom accordingly. This scan may need to be repeated a few times for general alignment. This is not a formal
ACR step. End study when all 4 BBs are visible: and proceed with formal ACR testing.
Instruction 4.2, Page 5 of 16:
Use your site’s High Resolution Chest protocol to acquire a single axial scan.
• Phantom should now be centered in the center of Module 1.
• Start Study
• Set “Patient ID” to “ACR BR64”
• Set “Gender” to “Other”.
• Set “Age Group” to “Adult”.
• Set “Position” to “Head First Supine”.
• Select Thorax Exam Group
• Select HRCT Axial
• Delete the Surview scan
• An example acquisition is shown below for the Alignment scan on Module 1:
Scanner Label Start End Length Thicknes Increment kV mAs Cycle Cycles
s Time
BR64 Alignment * 3.85 1.25 0 120 200 1.1 1
Resolutio Collimatio Tilt Rotatio FOV Filter Enhancemen Window Window Center Center Matrix
n n n Time t C W X Y
high 2x0.625 0 0.5 250 L 0 0 1000 0 0 768
Perform the acquisition and review the resulting images and ensure that all four bb’s (anterior, posterior, and laterals) are present on one of
the images. If not, make minor phantom adjustments and repeat the scan as required (4.5) Page 5 of 16,( Phantom Testing Instructions.)
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The final image should look like the image below:
Figure 2
Instruction 4.3, Page 5 of 16:
If bb’s are not aligned :
• Select “Graphics”, “Grid”, to display the grid on the phantom image.
• Check that the BBs are aligned (horizontally and vertically).
• Use the table up/down controls, the rear phantom knob and manual centering, rotating, and skewing movements to align the phantom.
• Repeat acquisition to check alignment.
• If there is at least one image in which all four BBs are visible and the central wires are symmetrically located in the center of the ramps,
record PASS for Module 1 BB alignment.
• Turn off grid by selecting “Graphics” and “Grid” and film. Film Box 1:2
To film image for Film 1, Box 2:
• Select Single Image Icon from viewer toolbar and send to filming.
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• Send to film from toolbar (camera icon)
• Check to see that the image has been placed next to SMPTE image by selecting the “Filming” tab.
Instruction 4.6, Page 5 of 16:
• Scanning Module 4 for Phantom and Scanner Alignment
• Scan using the parameters below for the Alignment scan on Module 4: Use a display field of view (reconstructed image diameter) as
close to, but not smaller than 21cm.
• An example acquisition is shown below:
Scanner Label Start End Length Thicknes Increment kV mAs Cycle Cycles
s Time
BR64 Alignment 120 120 3.85 1.25 0 120 200 1.1 1
Resolutio Collimatio Tilt Rotatio FOV Filter Enhancemen Window Window Center Center Matrix
n n n Time t C W X Y
high 2x0.625 0 0.5 250 L 0 0 1000 0 0 768
• Perform the acquisition and review the resulting image and ensure that all four bb’s (anterior, posterior, and laterals) are present. If not,
make minor phantom adjustments and repeat the scan as required (4.5).
• If there is at least one image in which all four BBs are visible, record PASS for Module 1 BB alignment and film image on Film 1, Box
3.
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Description:Below is the Product Specifications for the Brilliance 64. This form . End study when all 4 BBs are visible: and proceed with formal ACR testing.
