MAMMOGRAPHY QUALITY ASSURANCE PROGRAMS

A quality assurance program is an integral part of a department of radiology, but certain examinations require a more specialized approach than others. The need for greater quality control in mammography was recognized by the American College of Radiology in 1987. The voluntary program developed by this organization has greatly improved the overall quality of mammography in almost three fourths of the facilities in this country. The principles of this initiative now have been adopted by various state and federal agencies, but a uniform approach has not yet been finalized. Optimally, the best aspects of all of these programs will be integrated, resulting in satisfactory image quality, acceptable dosimetry, and an appropriate level of interpretive accuracy in all mammography installations.