DIAGNOSTIC REFERENCE LEVELS IN SCREENING MAMMOGRAPHY CENTERS IN SLOVAKIA

Abstract

Optimization in mammography remains the most important tool in practice. In the optimization process, we look for a balanced relationship between image quality and patient dose. For mammographic examinations, the diagnostic reference levels (DRLs) are expressed as the average glandular dose (AGD) based on the thickness of the compressed breast. The aim of this study was to analyse DRL compliance in diagnostic mammography at 16 mammography screening centres using an automated system for tracking patient doses during the period between January 2020 and December 2020 and to subsequently propose new DRLs for the screening mammography centres in Slovakia. The new DRLs were ~20% lower than the existing national DRLs in diagnostic mammography in Slovakia and significantly lower than the achievable AGD levels published in the fourth edition of the European Guidelines for Quality Assurance in Breast Cancer Screening and Diagnosis.