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Table 7 Overview of recommended tests for image quality assessment in mammography (for further detail on the methodology please refer to the original guidance documents)

From: Quality assurance and quality control in mammography: a review of available guidance worldwide

Test

Guideline

Materials

Comments and reference values

Positioning

ACR

NA

Subjective evaluation using clinical criteria

EC Ireland,

Australia,

IAEA-SF

Compression

ACR

NA

Subjective evaluation using clinical criteria

EC

Compression force device, foam rubber, tape measure

Display force = measured force ± 20 N. Max motorised force = 130–200 N

Ireland

 

Subjective evaluation using clinical criteria, Max motorised force = 200 N

 

Scales, compressible material

Display force = measured force ± 20 N. Max misalignment <5 mm for symmetric load.

Australia

Force measuring device (e.g. analogue bathroom scales)

Maximum motorised force between 150–200 N

IAEA-DM

Scales (e.g. analogue bathroom scales), foam, PMMA slabs

Test motorised and manual compression. Max motorised force = 150 N-200 N. Max manual force = 300 N. Display thickness = slab thickness ± 8 mm

Contrast resolution and visualisation of breast lesions (in phantom)

ACR, Canada, Australia, RANZCR

ACR accreditation phantom. Canada (alternative phantoms are RMI 156 or NA 18–220 or CIRS 015)

CANADA: provides reference values for SFM and DR

ACR, Australia: RANZCR provides minimum threshold for visible details

EC

CDMAM

ACR, Australia: RANZCR provides minimum threshold for visible details

UK/IPEM, UK/NHSBSP

TOR (MAM) or CDMAM

IPEM: recommend remedial values for low contrast detail detectability

NHSBSP: recommend acceptable and achievable values

Ireland

CDMAM, PMMA blocks, CDCOM software, TORMAM

Recommends achievable and minimum limits for automated analysis, following EC guidance

IAEA-DM

Not specified (phantom should mimicking breast structures)

IQ assessed for digital systems should be as good as, or better than, that expected with high quality SF mammography

Spatial resolution

UK/IPEM

TOR(MAX)

Recommends remedial value

EC

MTF test tool, software to calculate MTF

Recommends considering the acceptance value as reference

Ireland

MTF edge phantom, ImageJ software

Recommended considering the acceptance value as reference

Canada

2 test patterns; PMMA

Minimum threshold for broad

ACR

Bar pattern

Recommended values for perpendicular and parallel MTF

IAEA-DM

MTF test tool-metal foil with straight edges (e.g. copper, stainless steel, brass, etc.)

Acceptable values are presented for all available manufactures.

 

PMMA to support the MTF test tool and MTF software

 

UK/NHSBSP

Bar pattern

Recommended values presented according manufactures (should be at least <70 % of Nyquist frequency of the detector)

UK/IPEM

TORMAX

Remedial and suspension values provided

Noise

EC

NPS phantom (standard test block), optional software to calculate NPS

Manufacturer’s specifications

Ireland

Standard PMMA test block dosimeter

Consider acceptance values as reference.

Canada

PMMA blocks with various thickness and 0.1 mm of aluminium

Acceptable values are presented for all types of breast tissue.

ACR

NA

Subjective evaluation using clinical criteria

Signal-to-noise ratio (SNR)

UK/NHSBSP

PMMA blocks

Recommended minimum SNR variation

IAEA-DM

PMMA blocks and aluminium (or PMMA contrast object)

Acceptable values are presented for all available manufactures.

Artefacts

All Protocols

PMMA blocks or aluminium plate

Subjective using established criteria

Labelling

ACR and IAEA-SF

NA

Patient and facility name, projection view, side, cassette number, mammography unit used and the initials of technologists who performed the examination.

  1. NA not available/not applicable