Evaluating Film Reject Rates in Medical Imaging: A Five‑Year Cross‑Sectional Study from Nigeria
DOI:
https://doi.org/10.33003/fjorae.2026.03SI.81Keywords:
Film Reject Analysis, Radiography, Quality Control, Patient Dose, Overexposure, UnderexposureAbstract
Film Reject Analysis (FRA) is a critical quality control tool in medical imaging, offering insight into image quality and patient radiation exposure. This study assessed reject rates, causes, and examinations most frequently associated with rejected films. A total of 591 rejected radiographs were retrospectively reviewed over five years (2018–2022) at Sandaji Lafia Medical Center, Nasarawa State, Nigeria. Rejections were categorized into overexposure, underexposure, patient motion, incorrect positioning, artifact, collimation, fog, and incorrect patient identification. Data were analyzed using descriptive statistics, and graphs were generated with Python (version 3.8) employing Matplotlib and Seaborn libraries. Annual reject rates were 11.23% (2018), 4.54% (2019), 3.52% (2020), 9.89% (2021), and 5.71% (2022). Rates in 2019 and 2020 fell within the WHO recommendation of ≤5%. Overexposure and underexposure were the leading causes, highlighting the need for radiographer training and equipment quality assurance. These findings provide a benchmark for departmental performance and emphasize the importance of systematic FRA in improving diagnostic accuracy and patient safety.
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