Mammography Accreditation and the New ACR Digital Mammography QC Manual

Congress:

EuroSafe Imaging 2017

Poster Number:

ESI-0027

Type:

EuroSafe Imaging

Keywords:

Radiation physics, Breast, Action 5 - Performance indicators for radiation protection management, Action 3 - Image quality assessment based on clinical indications, Action 2 - Clinical diagnostic reference levels (DRLs), Action 9 - Development of criteria for safe imaging procedures, Action 4 - Quality of radiological equipment, Action 3 - Optimisation, diagnostic reference levels, image quality, Mammography, Dosimetry, Quality assurance

Authors:

P. Butler, P. Platt, K. Lorig, E. Berns

DOI:

10.1594/esi2017/ESI-0027

DOI-Link:

https://dx.doi.org/10.1594/esi2017/ESI-0027

Fig. 1: 2016 ACR Digital Mammography Quality Control Manual

Fig. 2: ACR Digital Mammography Phantom

Table 1: ACR Digital Mammography Quality Control Tests

Fig. 3: ACR Digital Mammography Phantom Test Objects

Background/Introduction

The American College of Radiology’s (ACR) original ACR Committee on Mammography Quality Assurance, chaired by Gerald Dodd, MD, first published its Mammography Quality Control (QC) Manual in 1990 to provide quality control procedures for screen-film mammography. Three more versions were published, the latest in 1999 under the chairmanship of R. Edward Hendrick, PhD [1]. In order to become accredited [2] and meet FDA mammography regulations facilities must perform FDA-required QC tests [3]. The ACR’s quality control manuals provide guidance to imaging professionals on how to...

Description of activity and work performed

In February 2016, the FDA approved the ACR’s new Digital Mammography Quality Control (QC) Manual (see Figure 1) and Digital Mammography QC Phantom (see Figure 2) as an alternative standard for use in routine QC of digital mammography equipment. This approval, as an alternative standard, allows mammography facilities, including QC technologists and medical physicists, to use the new ACR manual in lieu of manufacturers’ quality control manuals. The FDA alternative standard specifies that the new manual may be used only for full-field digital mammography systems...

Conclusion and Recommendations

The US radiology community is continually faced with challenges to improve breast cancer detection by producing high quality images at the lowest possible dose while at the same time minimizing costs and personnel time. The new, 2016 ACR Digital Mammography Quality Control Manual enables mammography professionals to more efficiently conduct meaningful tests and focus on performing QC that has a higher probability of detecting clinically-relevant problems while at the same time identifying problems which may need further investigation with additional testing.

Personal/Organisational information

Priscilla F. Butler, MS Senior Director, Department of Quality and Safety American College of Radiology 1891 Preston White Drive Reston, VA USA [email protected] www.acr.org

References

1. Hendrick RE, Bassett L, Botsco MA, et al. Mammography Quality Control Manual. Reston, Va: American College of Radiology; 1999. 2. American College of Radiology. Mammography Accreditation Program Requirements, December 7, 2017. http://www.acraccreditation.org/Modalities/Mammography. 3. Department of Health and Human Services. FDA Mammography Quality Standards, Final Rule. Federal Register, Vol 62, No. 208; Tuesday, October 28, 1997. Available at: http://www.fda.gov/Radiation-EmittingProducts/MammographyQualityStandardsActandProgram/Regulations/ucm110906.htm.