A Study on the Improvement of Safety Testing Standards and Methods for Mammography

Jo, Sangwon; Choi, Seon Hyeong; Jung, Ah Young; Yong, Hwan Seok; Park, Ji Koon; Kim, Do Wan; Jang, Gi Won; Cha, Sang Hoon

doi:10.3348/jksr.2012.67.6.451

J Korean Soc Radiol. 2012 Dec;67(6):451-459. Korean.
Published online Dec 31, 2012.
https://doi.org/10.3348/jksr.2012.67.6.451

Original Article

A Study on the Improvement of Safety Testing Standards and Methods for Mammography

Sangwon Jo, MD,² Seon Hyeong Choi, MD,¹^,² Ah Young Jung, MD,¹^,³ Hwan Seok Yong, MD,¹^,⁴ Ji Koon Park, PhD,⁵ Do Wan Kim,¹ Gi Won Jang,¹ and Sang Hoon Cha¹^,⁶

Author information

Author notes

Copyright and License

- ¹Korean Institute for Accreditation of Medical Imaging, Seoul, Korea.
- ²Department of Radiology, Kangbuk Samsung Hospital, Sungkyunkwan University School of Medicine, Seoul, Korea.
- ³Department of Radiology, Hallym University College of Medicine, Kangnam Sacred Heart Hospital, Seoul, Korea.
- ⁴Department of Radiology, Korea University College of Medicine, Guro Hospital, Seoul, Korea.
- ⁵Industry-Academic Cooperation Foundation, International University of Korea, Jinju, Korea.
- ⁶Department of Radiology, Korea University College of Medicine, Ansan Hospital, Ansan, Korea.
Corresponding author: Seon Hyeong Choi, MD. Department of Radiology, Kangbuk Samsung Hospital, Sungkyunkwan University School of Medicine, 29 Saemunan-ro, Jongno-gu, Seoul 110-746, Korea. Tel. 82-2-2001-1880, Fax. 82-2-2001-1881, Email: choi@samsung.com

Received August 07, 2012; Accepted September 11, 2012.

Abstract

Purpose

To establish the improved national safety testing standards and methods for mammography.

Materials and Methods

We investigated and compared the current status of mammographic equipment installation with the national and international safety and quality control programs and methods. We established and verified the draft for safety testing standards and methods.

Results

We propose that the investigations of the conductor system, hardware leakage radiation profile, illumination intensity test, comparison between X-ray and light photon exposure, X-ray dose exposure on the chest wall, compression equipment size, timing equipment, and the average effective radiation dose, should all be maintained as they are in the present state without any changes. However, the exposure radiation dose reproducibility, kVp and mAs, and the half value layer tests should be reconsidered and revised. Moreover, compression pressure and autonomic exposure control system (AEC) tests should be included as new criteria. Other parameter controls included in the phantom image analysis which overlap with total quality assurance should be excluded.

Conclusion

We recommend that AEC and compression pressure tests should be included as new criteria and the methods for the exposure radiation dose reproducibility, kVp, and mAs, and half value layer tests should be reconsidered and revised.

Keywords

Breast; Mammography; Mandatory Testing; X-Rays; Safety Management

Tables

Table 1
Comparison of Quality Control Check Lists in USA, EU and South Korea

Click for larger image

Table 2
Current Similar Check Lists between Safety Test & Quality Control for Mammography

Click for larger image

Notes

This research was supported by a grant (11172KFDA525) from Korea Food & Drug Administration in 2011.

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