The Physics Department of Diponegoro University launched the flagship research product IndoQCT software which took place in the Hall Room, 6th floor of the Acintya Prasada building, Faculty of Science and Mathematics, Undip Tembalang campus on Wednesday (14/6). IndoQCT is software whose main function is to measure the quality of CT scan images automatically, quickly, and accurately. IndoQCT has many other features, such as multiple windows-blending, noise reduction, DICOM header anonymization, oblique and irregular image reformatting, and many others. IndoQCT is a software developed by the Research Team from the Physics Department, Faculty of Science and Mathematics Undip, led by Dr. Choirul Anam, S.Si., M.Si., F.Med. Usually, software on advanced technology such as CT (computed tomography) is developed by major research institutions in America, Germany, France, Japan, or other developed countries. IndoQCT is the first image quality measurement software developed in Indonesia and Southeast Asia.
Then, what is the measurement of CT image quality for? Dr. Choirul, as the Team Leader, explained that CT (computed tomography) is an important tool for modern medical imaging. Currently, CT machines are available in almost all hospitals worldwide, including Indonesia. CT is a machine for producing 3D images of the human body for patient diagnosis. Moreover, CT imaging has the advantage of a swift acquisition time, only a few seconds to a few minutes. This advantage makes CT the medical imaging tool of choice.
He further explained that CT uses X-rays which are high doses of ionizing radiation, so the use of CT has the risk of harming the human body. In addition, CT is a very complex machine, so there is a potential for errors at each stage in producing images. The slightest mistake has the potential to create an image that can result in a fatal error in patient diagnosis. Therefore, CT performance must always be monitored so that it is always in prime condition. CT performance is carried out in complex quality control or QC procedures.
The Quality Control of CT aircraft is a routine program regularly. There are daily, monthly, and yearly QC. Conventionally measuring various parameters on QC takes a long time, up to hours. Moreover, manual QC results are also very subjective and dependent on the medical personnel working on them. Therefore, IndoQCT is here to answer the need for automated, fast, objective, and accurate QC.
Dr. Choirul explained, “Unlike some existing software limited to only one type of phantom and parameters which are also limited, IndoQCT can be used to measure various image quality parameters from different phantom available on the market. Several parameters that can be measured with IndoQCT include CT number accuracy, homogeneity, linearity, image noise, spatial resolution, low contrast, image slice thickness, etc. Thus, IndoQCT is the most comprehensive software in the world for measuring CT scan image quality.
Can IndoQCT only measure phantom images? IndoQCT can also measure the quality of the patient’s clinical image. This feature is handy and facilitates optimizing the CT examination protocol. Thus, IndoQCT will help simplify and speed up the work of Clinical Medical Physicists in hospitals. IndoQCT is also very useful as a tool for research on CT scans.
From the research that has been done, unfortunately, some of them are only limited to scientific publications. It is appropriate for research results to become a product that can be utilized by the people of Indonesia and even the world.
Therefore, research on the quality of CT images that have been carried out by Dr. Choirul Anam and the team starting in 2018, apart from producing scientific publications in reputable international journals since 2021. Various research results have begun to be integrated, and eventually, IndoQCT became what it is today.
Previously, he and a team from ITB developed software to measure the radiation dose of CT planes and the radiation dose received by patients from CT examinations, which was named IndoseCT. They launched the software in 2021. Until now, IndoseCT has been downloaded by students, practitioners, academics, and researchers from more than 40 countries. IndoseCT has been used as a tool for dissertation research for doctoral students from several countries.
Meanwhile, as Chair of the IndoQCT Launching Committee, Zaenal Arifin, S.Si., M.Si., F.Med added that the results of this superior research can be applied in the hospital industry, thus supporting the main performance of Diponegoro University in research applications that the public can utilize directly. Undip’s physics research results can contribute nationally and internationally to the academic world and industrial practice. The research results align with the vision of Diponegoro University to become a superior and world-class research university. (FSM/Ut – Public Relations Team)
