Finding spaces and opportunities for clinical practice in mammography is not always easy; moving part of the training process to the laboratory can represent an excellent opportunity to maximize what can be learned during the internship[1; 2; 3; 4; 5]. The use of anthropomorphic phantoms that mimic the structure, consistency, and radiographic characteristics of the breast, as well as the development and reduction of costs associated with the use of 3D printers with appropriate materials, is proving to be a valuable resource in the field...

The corset (Modello per palpazione del seno da appendere, 3B Scientific®) is a unique and realistic cast of a female torso with medium-sized breasts used to teach and practice the breast self-examination test. The model is manufactured of 3B SKINlike™ silicone, which accurately reproduces the minute structures of the skin and is particularly lifelike to the touch.[Fig 1]The laboratory was divided into groups of no more than five persons, each lasting six hours. A radiographer with mammography experience taught the trainees about mammography positioning. The...

Third-year students attended the laboratory. Clinical placement guides in mammography have reported an increase in placement abilities after the lab's introduction, and students have indicated satisfaction with the training experience.The students reacted highly on their laboratory experience. One of the laboratory's merits was the split into small groups, which allowed the tutor to devote adequate attention to each student.Following the tutor's technical demonstration of the method, every student were able to calmly test and even retry the different projections with the phantom. This will undoubtedly...

The results show that the breast vest is an effective tool for teaching Radiographer students mammography placement. The corset duplicates the experience of administering a mammography, allowing trainees to learn precise positioning methods.Taking use of current 3D printing technology allows for more applications in accurately imitating breast tissue in terms of texture and radiopacity. An integrated strategy with several phantom models to be employed in the laboratory is preferred in order to prepare students as much as possible for their internship experience in breast unit...

A. Devetti: Nothing to disclose S. Da Dalt: Nothing to disclose M. De Stefano: Nothing to disclose R. Fazzin: Nothing to disclose R. Girometti: Nothing to disclose C. Zuiani: Nothing to disclose

McNulty JP, England A, Shanahan MC. International perspectives on radiography practice education. Radiography (Lond). 2021 Nov;27(4):1044-1051. doi: 10.1016/j.radi.2021.04.004. Epub 2021 Apr 29. PMID: 33934944. Strøm B, Pires Jorge JA, Richli Meystre N, Henner A, Kukkes T, Metsälä E, Sà Dos Reis C. Challenges in mammography education and training today: The perspectives of radiography teachers/mentors and students in five European countries. Radiography (Lond). 2018 Feb;24(1):41-46. doi: 10.1016/j.radi.2017.08.008. Epub 2017 Sep 12. PMID: 29306374. Strudwick RM, Taylor K. An investigation into breast imaging as part of the...