Routine Quality Assurance for Whole Breast Digital Mammography.
Abstract
At the present time, three whole breast digital mammography units are undergoing clinical trials for FDA 510 (k) approval. During the two years of this grant period, the TREX system has been tested extensively over an 18-month period with a phantom designed for digital use. The GE and Fischer units have been tested with similar phantoms. A semi-automatic analysis program has been written in C++. The program can be used by a trained technologist for weekly quality control. For the TREX application, all 12 CCD's are tested independently for signal to noise ratio, contrast to noise ratio, calcification visibility, and dynamic range. Mean, standard deviation, and coefficient of variation are reported across all CCD's and over time. For the GE digital unit, a similar phantom and analysis program is used because of variations across the amorphous silicon. For the Fischer unit, the 4 CCD's in the slot are tested. As a result of this research, there have been three presentations at national meetings, a peer reviewed article has been accepted for publication, and a poster was presented at SPIE in San Diego. A simple method to monitor digital mammography quality control has been devised and tested. Modifications in the phantom and analysis program for specific systems has been shown to be feasible and all current manufacturers or the physicists at clinical sites have been supplied with a phantom and analysis program for their systems.
Document Details
- Document Type
- Technical Report
- Publication Date
- Sep 01, 1998
- Accession Number
- ADA357566
Entities
People
- Carolyn Kimme-smith
Organizations
- University of California, Los Angeles