Improvement of early detection of breast cancer through collaborative multi-country efforts: Medical physics component

Abstract

Common activities facilitated improvement in mammography practice, including training of medical physicists in QC programs and infrastructure was improved and strengthened; networking among medical physicists and radiologists took place and was maintained over time. IAEA QC protocols provided a uniformed approach to QC measurements.

Calculating the target exposure index using a deep convolutional neural network and a rule base

“…In the future, learning that uses a wide variety of images as well as automation of the fields to be discriminated may allow real-time image quality assessment after imaging is completed. The proposed method might be used for quality assurance (QA) purposes, such as inter-vendor comparisons and collaborative multi-country efforts [41]. In order to use the proposed method for QA purposes, it is necessary to teach DCNN using a large number of images obtained from multiple vendors as the training data.…”

IAEA activities to support quality and safety in x-ray breast imaging

“…The collaboration under this project was an opportunity for the participating centers to build their human resources in medical physics, mainly through training of physicists working in other disciplines in the specialized areas of x-ray breast imaging physics. The CRP also enhanced collaboration among radiologist and medical physicist and contributed to the embellishment of radiographers QC practices on regular basis [26]. Important achievement is also a network of medical physicist and radiologists created during the project, that retained after the CRP was completed.…”

“…A CRP entitled "Enhancing Capacity for Early Detection and Diagnosis of Breast Cancer through Imaging", brought together mammography radiologists, medical physicists and radiographers from 15 different countries. During the 4-year period (2012-2016) project activities were undertaken with the intention to investigate current practices, aiming to improve early detection of breast cancer by strengthening both the clinical and medical physics components [26]. The overall objective of the CRP from the medical physics perspective, was to contribute to the improvement in diagnosis and detection of breast cancer following the application of international standards of best practice in mammography.…”

An evaluation of the present status of quality assurance program implementation in digital mammography facilities in a developing country

“…A QAP involves planned and systematic actions that will produce consistent high-quality images, considering a low radiation exposure (just that necessary) for patients and workers. A QAP includes quality control (QC) tests and quality administration procedures, and should be updated throughout the entire operation of the establishment [6]. Even though the risk of cancer induction associated with mammography acquisition is relatively low, a QC protocol application (as a part of a QAP) is mandatory, in order to guarantee that subtle contrast differences among healthy breast tissues and breast abnormalities (masses or microcalcifications) are well differentiated in the diagnostic image [7][8][9].…”

“…On the other hand, prior to patient image acquisition, commissioning QC tests must be performed within the mammography unit by qualified personnel (such as the MP) and, subsequently, frequent QCs must be carried out to ensure that the equipment works properly. The presence of a phantom (even a simple one, such as polymethylmethacrylate slabs) is a basic tool to follow up the presence of artifacts, consistency of exposure factors, exposure index behavior, compression scale accuracy, or any other short-term fluctuations in the components of the image chain [6,9,10]. The absence or incorrect implementation of a QC phantom puts the patient's safety and mammography at risk.…”