Radiation Use in Image-Guided Interventions: Think Differently—Image Utility Over Image Quality

When attempting to optimize radiation use during a fluoroscopic procedure, the aim is to acquire images that adequately address the needs of the different tasks which together comprise the procedure. Naturally, each procedure and its different segments may yield a variety of needs and related images. Ideally, these images should possess just enough information to adequately address the uncertainties of the task at hand. While complex tasks might justify acquiring high quality images with their minimal uncertainty, low quality images with their higher uncertainty, are often sufficient for simple tasks. This shift in perspective indicates a need to focus on the factors that govern the clinical utility of images rather than the more traditional concept of image quality.