Table 1 Criteria to assess mammography examinations grouped by type (positioning, artefacts, sharpness, parameters) in craniocaudal, mediolateral oblique and mediolateral mammograms

Breast centrally placed

[13, 43,44,45]

Positioning (13)

Presence of pectoral muscle (PM)

[11, 13, 45]

Pectoral muscle visualised down to the level of PNL

[11, 13, 45, 46]

Visualisation of retroglandular adipose tissue

[11, 13, 45]

Medial border of the breast included on the image

[11, 13, 45, 46]

Axillary tail demonstrated

[11, 13, 45, 46]

Superior breast edge included

[13]

Inferior breast edge included

[45]

Full visualisation of inferior breast tissue

[45]

Inframammary angle clearly demonstrated

[11, 13, 45, 46]

Nipple in profile or transected by skin

[11, 13, 45, 46]

Nipple in the midline (+/− 10°)

[11, 45]

Symmetrical mirror images R/L images

[11, 13, 45, 46]

No skin folds

[13, 45, 46]

Artefacts (3)

No artefacts

[45, 46]

Skin edges visualised

[13]

Spread of breast tissue to differentiate adipose from fibroglandular tissue

[43, 44]

Sharpness/compression (4)

Sharpness of glandular tissue

[13, 45, 46]

Sharpness of vascular structures

[13, 44]

Visually sharp reproduction of skin structure (rosettes from pores)

[13]

Good penetration of thicker areas without over penetration of thin areas

[45, 46]

Parameters (2)

Appropriate contrast

[44,45,46]