1. Quality Assurance, Quality Control & Equipment Bushong Ch. 19 & 20
MAMMOGRAPHY QA
Quality Assurance, Quality Control
& Equipment
Bushong Ch. 19 & 20
PURPOSE OF QC
ASSURES OPTIMUM PATIENT CARE
by avoiding unnecessary repeat exposures due to artifacts, processing problems and equipment failure
Rev. Spring 2009/2010

2. EQUIPMENT DESIGN & OPERATION STANDARDS (DEDICATED UNITS)
MQSA National Statistics
FEDERAL LEGISLATION
OCT. 1, 1994
EQUIPMENT DESIGN & OPERATION STANDARDS (DEDICATED UNITS)
INTENSIVE QUALITY CONTROL PROGRAM
Certification statistics, as of March 1, 2010
  12,623
Certified facilities with FFDM2 units / Accredited FFDM units
5,402 / 7,963
Total annual mammography procedures reported, as of March 1, 20101
38,057,377
Percent of inspections with no violation
80.2%
WHAT DOES MQSA REPRESENT? __________________
1 This number is an aggregate of the total number of procedures performed annually as reported by facilities to

3. MAMMO & Quality Control
Quality control is an equipment and processing evaluation program in diagnostic imaging centers.
QC involves testing, record keeping and evaluation of imaging equipment and processing
QC Team includes Radiographer/Mammographer, Physicists and Radiologist
QA involves people – scheduling, reports, waiting time and follow up exams
“double reads”
See Bushong – CH. ____ PG ____

4. Elements of QC pg 333 FREQUENCY TASKS Daily Weekly Monthly/Quarterly
Darkroom Clean
Processor QC – sensitometry/densitometry and DEVELOPER temp
Screen Cleaning
VISUAL CHECK
Phantom Images
Repeat Analysis (should be less than 2% repeat rate - diagnostic rad = 5%)

5. MAMMO QC MONTHLY Checks SEMIANNUALLY DARKROOM FOG SCREEN/FILM CONTACT
COMPRESSION
NOT MORE THAN
40 PSI
(25 PSI
is average)

6. QUALITY CONTROL TOOLS PHANTOM DIGITAL THERMOMETER SCREEN CLEANER
LINT FREE CLOTHS
FIXER RETENTION TESTING KIT
CHARTS

7. Hypo Retention Checks for what?
Fixer left on film – “Archival Properties”

8. WIRE MESH Checks for what
How long should you wait after loading a cassette to use it?
15 min & placed in an upright position

9. Check for leaks/cracks?
Types of Safelights?
Wratten 6b
GBX
Check for leaks/cracks?
How often?
Bulb Wattage?

10. For those still using film… clean crossovers daily
Use “dedicated” processor for only mammo

11. Not calcifications in the breast
VISUAL
CHECKLIST
MONTHLY
FIXER RETENTION
REPEAT
ANALYSIS
DARKROOM
FOG
SEMI-ANNUAL
FILM/SCREEN
CONTACT
COMPRESSION
(25 PSI)
These specks were produced by flakes trapped between the film and the screen –
Not calcifications in the breast

12. PHANTOM IMAGES 4/5 masses 3/4specks 4/6 fibers should be seen
WEEKLY - to assure film density, contrast, uniformity and image quality are optimum – Using the SAME cassette and technical factors each time
4/5 masses
3/4specks
4/6 fibers
should be seen
(see pg 500 review book)

13. REPEAT ANALYSIS Mammography should be less than 2%
Number of repeated film
Repeat Rate = X 100
Total # of films
Diagnostic Radiology = less than 5%
Students = less than 10 %