Open AccessPhysical and technical aspects of quality assurance in mammography in the Republic of Srpska
Author(s) -
Olivera Ciraj-Bjelac,
Jovica Praskalo,
Jasna Davidović,
M Monika Zivkovic
Publication year - 2011
Publication title -
nuclear technology and radiation protection
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 0.31
H-Index - 16
eISSN - 1452-8185
pISSN - 1451-3994
DOI - 10.2298/ntrp1102171c
Subject(s) - mammography , quality assurance , medicine , medical physics , legislation , breast cancer , quality (philosophy) , population , cancer , environmental health , pathology , political science , philosophy , external quality assessment , epistemology , law
Breast cancer is the most frequent malignant neoplasm affecting the female population. In order to reduce its morbidity and mortality rate, a mammography screening campaign has been established in both entities of Bosnia and Herzegovina. In this paper, a brief survey is given on the mammography screening practice in the Republic of Srpska. As an illustration, results of measurements of technical parameters, including mean glandular dose, for 31 mammography units are presented. Large fluctuations in dose among different measuring sites were found, unacceptable not only from the standpoint of mammography screening, but in clinical mammography as a whole. Subsequently, a series of quality control tests and corrective measures throughout the mammography imaging chain are proposed, in line with international guidelines and newly promulgated national legislation. Dose optimization and image quality improvement are the first and foremost goals to be achieved in order to setup a successful mammography screening program