Health & Medical Physics Modalities

General Radiography

F.X. Massé Associates offers annual performance evaluations of all medical X-Ray equipment. This service includes a comprehensive detailed report including the establishment of skin-entry doses for routine procedures for comparisons to established diagnostic reference levels on each unit. This service includes an annual assessment of all radiation protection aspects of each room and each system with an evaluation of the accuracy and linearity of kVp, mA, time, reproducibility, filtration, and collimation.

Mammography

F.X. Massé Associates offers annual performance evaluations of mammography systems. Additionally, we provide review of the quality control program associated with mammography as required by MQSA, various State regulations, and the ACR. Performance evaluations are performed by qualified medical physicists who meet FDA, State, and ACR requirements. Our services include film/screen systems, stereotactic breast biopsy units, full field digital, and tomosynthesis units for both 2D and 3D operation.

Computed Tomography

F.X. Massé Associates performs annual CT system performance evaluations to meet ACR, IAC and TJC requirements. This includes CTDI measurements, HVL, mAs linearity, scatter radiation measurements, low-contrast and high-contrast detectability, image noise and uniformity, CT number accuracy, artifact evaluation, radiation beam width accuracy, slice thickness accuracy, distance measurement accuracy, congruence of laser and slice plane, and table incrementation accuracy. Review of most commonly used clinical protocols, as well as evaluation of image acquisition monitors is provided. Laser alignment tests for virtual CT-Simulators, as well as CT-fluoroscopy measurements are performed as applicable. Medical physics testing specifically for ACR accreditation is also part of our service, and includes critical evaluation of phantom images prior to submission, as well as guidance on data entry for the ACR online application.

Fluoroscopy

F.X. Massé Associates offers annual performance evaluations of all medical X-Ray equipment. This service includes a comprehensive detailed report including the establishment of skin-entry doses for typical patient sizes. This service includes an annual assessment of all radiation protection aspects of each room and each system with an evaluation of the accuracy and linearity of kVp, mA, time, reproducibility, filtration, and collimation.

MRI

F.X. Massé Associates offers performance evaluations by qualified medical physicists of your diagnostic MRI systems on an annual basis. Our MRI performance evaluations meet the ACR and Joint Commission requirements including SNR testing of all clinically used RF coils and a formal QC program review.

Nuclear Imaging/PET

F.X. Massé Associates offers Gamma Camera and PET scanner performance evaluations by qualified medical physicists which meets both ACR and The Joint Commission requirements. Annual testing for gamma cameras includes intrinsic and system uniformity evaluation, spatial resolution, system sensitivity, intrinsic energy resolution, count rate performance, multiple window spatial registration, interlock testing, and SPECT-CT dose measurements as applicable. SPECT phantom images acquired by the technologist are evaluated. For PET scanners, we provide assistance with SUV analysis and phantom image quality assessments as specified by the ACR. Our routine nuclear medicine safety audit program also includes annual accuracy testing of dose calibrators, as well as processing of technologist-acquired data for dose calibrator geometry checks and quarterly linearity measurements.

Ultrasound

F.X. Massé Associates offers quality assurance testing by qualified medical physicists of your ultrasound systems on an annual basis in support of ACR program requirements which includes physical and mechanical inspection, image uniformity, artifact survey, geometric accuracy, system sensitivity and evaluation of QC program.

Biotechnology

F.X. Massé Associates offers site visits and direct interaction with research departments to assure a consistently safe working environment for staff and patients and proactive compliance with State and Federal regulatory requirements and annual performance evaluations of research xray systems. We can provide applicable FDA and IEC testing for manufacturing clients to meet regulatory needs. These services include assistance with FDA regulations on safety requirements for new equipment development, compliance measurements as necessary during the development process, and assistance with the data acquisition to complete the initial filing with FDA prior to marketing new radiation-emitting equipment. Senior members of the Associates have extensive experience with development and filing procedures with various x-ray, CT and mammography equipment.