What is the purpose of Detective Quantum Efficiency (DQE)?

The purpose of Detective Quantum Efficiency (DQE) is fundamentally about assessing the performance of imaging systems, specifically in how effectively they convert incoming radiation into high-quality images that can be viewed and interpreted. DQE quantifies the efficiency with which an imaging system detects and processes radiation. A higher DQE indicates that the system is capable of producing better-quality images from a given amount of radiation, meaning it is more effective at utilizing the incoming data to create a clear output.

This measure is crucial in radiology as it directly impacts the diagnostic quality of medical images while also considering patient safety by potentially minimizing radiation exposure. Assessing the DQE helps in determining if the equipment in use meets the practical needs of medical imaging, ensuring that radiologists can make accurate diagnoses based on the images produced.

The other choices, while related to aspects of radiology and imaging systems, do not capture the specific focus of DQE. For instance, measuring radiation dosage is important for safety but does not assess efficiency in image conversion. Calibrating the imaging system and determining optimal exposure times are operational aspects that influence image quality but do not directly measure how well the system detects and converts radiation into images.