Table 3 Recommended tests for QC for image detection and acquisition in mammographic systems (include testing the x-ray generation and image receptor)
From: Quality assurance and quality control in mammography: a review of available guidance worldwide
International | National | Regional | Frequency | ||||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
X-ray generation | Test type | Target parameter to assess | EC (2006) | IAEA-SF (2009) | IAEADM (2011) | ACR (1999) | UK/IPEM (2005) | Ireland (2008) | Australia (2008) | RANZCR (2009) | UK/NHSBSP (2009) | Canada (Quebec) (2001/2006) | Total (10)a |
X-ray source | Focal spot size | Y | N | N | Y | Y | Y | N | N | N | Y | 5 | |
Source-to-image distance | Y | N | N | N | Y | Y | N | N | Y | Y | 5 | ||
Alignment of X-ray field/image receptor | Y | Y | Y | Y | Y | Y | Y | N | Y | Y | 9 | ||
Radiation leakage | Y | Y | N | N | Y | Y | Y | N | Y | N | 7 | ||
Tube output | Y | N | Y | Y | Y | Y | Y | N | Y | Y | 8 | ||
Tube voltage and beam quality | Reproducibility and accuracy | Y | Y | Y | Y | Y | Y | Y | N | Y | Y | 9 | |
Half value layer (HVL) | Y | Y | Y | Y | Y | Y | Y | N | Y | Y | 9 | ||
AEC system performance | Optical density control setting: central value and difference per step | Y | Y | N | Y | Y | N | Y | N | N | Y | 7 | |
Back-up timer and security cut-off | Y | N | N | N | Y | Y | Y | N | Y | N | 5 | ||
Short term reproducibility | Y | N | N | Y | Y | Y | Y | Y | Y | R | 8 | ||
Long term reproducibility | Y | N | Y | N | N | N | Y | N | N | R | 4 | ||
Object thickness and tube voltage compensation | Y | Y | Y | Y | Y | Y | Y | Y | Y | Y | 10 | ||
Correspondence between AEC sensors | Y | N | N | N | N | N | Y | Y | Y | Y | 5 | ||
Compression | Compression force | Y | N | Y | Y | Y | N | Y | Y | N | Y | 7 | |
Compression plate alignment | Y | Y | Y | Y | N | Y | Y | Y | N | Y | 8 | ||
Bucky and image receptor | Anti-scatter grid | Grid system factor | Y | N | N | N | Y | Y | N | N | N | Y | 4 |
Grid imaging | Y | N | N | N | Y | Y | N | N | N | Y | 4 | ||
Screen-film | Inter cassette sensitivity and attenuation variation and optical density range | Y | Y | N | Y | Y | N | Y | N | N | Y | 6 | |
Screen-film contact | Y | Y | N | Y | Y | N | Y | N | N | Y | 6 | ||
Image receptor response (digital) | Response function | Y | N | Y | N | N | Y | Y | N | Y | R | 6 | |
Noise | Y | N | Y | N | R | Y | Y | N | Y | Y | 7 | ||
Missed tissue at chest wall edge (digital | Y | N | Y | N | N | N | Y | N | Y | Y | 5 | ||
Image receptor homogeneity and stability (digital) | Image receptor homogeneity | Y | N | Y | N | Y | Y | Y | Y | Y | Y | 8 | |
Detector element failure (DR systems) | Y | N | N | N | N | Y | Y | Y | N | N | 4 | ||
Uncorrected defective detector elements (DR systems) | Y | N | N | N | N | Y | N | N | N | N | 2 | ||
Inter-plate sensitivity variation (CR) | Y | N | Y | N | N | N | Y | Y | N | Y | 5 | ||
Other sources of radiation (CR) | Y | N | N | N | N | N | N | N | N | Y | 2 | ||
Fading of latent image (CR) | Y | N | N | N | N | N | N | N | Y | Y | 4 | ||
System properties | Dosimetry | Y | Y | Y | Y | Y | Y | Y | N | Y | Y | 9 | |
Image quality | Spatial resolution | Y | Y | Y | Y | Y | Y | Y | N | Y | Y | 9 | |
Image contrast | Y | Y | Y | Y | R | Y | Y | Y | Y | Y | 10 | ||
Threshold contrast visibility | Y | Y | N | Y | R | Y | Y | Y | Y | Y | 9 | ||
Exposure time | Y | N | N | N | Y | Y | Y | N | N | R | 5 | ||
Modulation transfer function and noise power spectrum (optional) | Y | N | Y | N | Y | Y | Y | N | Y | Y | 7 | ||
Artefacts | Y | N | N | Y | Y | N | Y | Y | Y | Y | 7 | ||
Geometric distortion and artefacts evaluation | Y | N | Y | Y | N | Y | Y | Y | Y | Y | 8 | ||
Ghost image/erasure thoroughness | Y | N | Y | N | N | Y | Y | N | Y | Y | 6 | ||