Comparison of results from quality control of physical parameters and results from clinical evaluation of mammographic images for the mammography screening facilities in Poland.

The material for this study comprised control protocols from 248 mammography screening facilities, prepared by physicists employed at 16 Regional Coordinating Centres and the results from the clinical evaluation of mammographic images in 248 facilities in Poland. All mammograms were evaluated independently by three experts selected from a list approved by the national consultant of radiology and diagnostic imaging. The requirements for proper breast positioning, selection of appropriate parameters for exposure and absence of artefacts were fulfilled only in 38 % of inspected mammography facilities. The requirements of the clinical audit were met only in 15 % of the mammography facilities. The requirements for the physical parameters of mammographic equipment were met only in 28 % of them. The requirements of the quality control (QC) tests and clinical audit were not fulfilled only in 19 % of the mammography facilities. Results from the QC of physical parameters are comparable with results from clinical evaluation of mammographic images in 57 % of the mammography facilities in Poland.

Quality control and patient doses in X-ray computed tomography.

Results of quality control (QC) tests for a period of over a year and patient doses were analysed for several computed tomography units in our centre. The results of the QC tests were generally within limits for all of the examined scanners, proving good and stable performance of the systems. The tests were not helpful in predicting breakdowns of the systems such as tube failure. The doses for the same anatomical areas differed between scanners and in some cases exceeded the diagnostic reference levels (DRLs). DRLs are defined for typical diagnostic examinations performed in general hospitals and are not directly applicable to the examinations performed in the oncological centre.