Open AccessA survey of short-term and long-term stability of tube parameters in a mammography unit
Author(s) -
Jovica Praskalo,
Jasna Davidović,
Branislava Kocić,
M Monika Zivkovic,
Svetlana M. Pejović
Publication year - 2014
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/ntrp1404321p
Subject(s) - mammography , kerma , term (time) , reproducibility , stability (learning theory) , medicine , medical physics , nuclear medicine , statistics , computer science , mathematics , physics , dosimetry , machine learning , cancer , quantum mechanics , breast cancer
In order to set up a successful mammography screening program in the Republic of Srpska, a Siemens Mammomat 1000 X-ray machine was selected for analysis as the said mammography system is widely used in clinical practice. The variations in tube parameters (specific air kerma, high-voltage accuracy and reproducibility, linearity between exposure and dose exposure time) were monitored over a five-year period, from 2008 to 2012. In addition, due to observed daily fluctuations for chosen parameters, a series of measurements were performed three times a day within a single-month period (mainly October 2012). The goal of such an experimental set up is to assess short-term and long-term stability of tube parameters in the given mammography unit and to make a comparison between them. The present paper shows how an early detection of significant parameter fluctuations can help eliminate irregularities and optimize the performance of mammography systems. [Projekat Ministarstva nauke Republike Srbije, br. 171007