Detective Quantum Efficiency (DQE) is defined as what?

Detective Quantum Efficiency (DQE) is a vital metric in assessing the performance of an imaging system, specifically in terms of its ability to convert incoming data (such as x-ray photons) into a useful image. The DQE quantifies how efficiently an imaging system can produce a diagnostic-quality image from the available incoming signal. This measure takes into consideration factors such as sensitivity, noise, and the overall quality of the output image relative to the amount of radiation exposure.

A higher DQE value indicates that the system is better at translating the information it receives into an accurate and clear image, which is crucial in medical imaging where minimizing radiation exposure while maximizing image quality is a priority. Thus, it serves as a comprehensive performance score of the imaging system, focusing on its effectiveness in detecting and converting the radiation to usable image data, ultimately affecting diagnosis and patient care.