A comprehensive review of phantom radiography: Design, applications, and technological advancements

Phantom radiography plays a critical role in the advancement of diagnostic radiology by enabling objective evaluation of imaging systems and techniques. This review analyzes the fundamental principles of phantom design in medical imaging and highlights recent technological innovations that have contributed to improved diagnostic performance. A comprehensive literature review was conducted, encompassing recent studies on both anatomical and non-anatomical phantoms. The analysis focuses on material selection, structural design, and the integration of emerging technologies, including three-dimensional printing, digital imaging, and computational modeling, to assess phantom characteristics. The findings demonstrate that phantom radiography provides significant benefits for image quality assurance, system calibration, clinical training, and validation of machine learning algorithms. Innovations reported across 46 selected studies have enhanced phantom realism, adaptability, and precision, enabling more accurate simulation of human tissue properties and improved evaluation of imaging system performance. These advancements underscore the essential role of phantom radiography in the development and quality assurance of medical imaging technologies. Future research should address existing challenges, particularly material standardization and cost efficiency, to further enhance diagnostic reliability and workflow optimization. This review offers valuable insights for researchers, healthcare professionals, and engineers aiming to improve diagnostic accuracy, patient safety, and overall imaging system performance.