Mammography practice in Serbia: evaluation and optimisation of image quality and the technical aspects of the mammographic imaging chain

Radiat Prot Dosimetry. 2010 Apr-May;139(1-3):293-7. doi: 10.1093/rpd/ncq096. Epub 2010 Mar 5.

Abstract

The purpose of this work was to assess mammography practice in Serbia and its appropriateness for both diagnostic service and potential screening by implementing quality control (QC) protocol in three large teaching hospitals. Corrective actions were suggested, accordingly. In addition to technical aspects of QC, image quality was assessed using image grading before and after the introduction of corrective measures. The survey demonstrated considerable variations in technical parameters that affect image quality and patients doses. Average glandular doses ranged from 1.8 to 2.8 mGy, while reference optical density (OD) ranged from 1.0 to 2.6. Image grading resulted in a very high percentage of images with poor quality (12-70 % for cranio-caudal projection and 8-66 % for medio-lateral oblique projection). Main problems were associated with film processing, viewing conditions and OD control. Following introduction of corrective measures, the image grading results were improved in some hospitals, so the percentage of images without any remarks has been increased.

Publication types

  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

MeSH terms

  • Breast Neoplasms / diagnostic imaging*
  • Breast Neoplasms / epidemiology*
  • Female
  • Humans
  • Mammography / statistics & numerical data*
  • Practice Patterns, Physicians' / statistics & numerical data*
  • Quality Assurance, Health Care*
  • Radiographic Image Enhancement / methods
  • Reproducibility of Results
  • Sensitivity and Specificity
  • Serbia / epidemiology