Quality assurance programme in mammography of the Sociedad Espanola de Diagnosticos por Imagen de la Mama (SEDIM)

The European Union Council Directive 97/43/Euratom of 30 June 1997 on health protection of individuals against the dangers of ionizing radiation in relation to medical exposure has been partially transposed to the Spanish national law by the Real Decreto 1976/1999, which establishes the quality criteria in Diagnostic Radiology. A key instrument in this legal regulation is the so-called Quality Assurance Program (QAP) which has to be implemented in each Diagnostic Radiology unit. The Spanish Breast Imaging Diagnostic Society (Sociedad Espanola de Diagnostico por Imagen de la Mama, SEDIM) has proposed a reference QAP to be used as a guide in all the mammography units in the country. Its main issues are displayed in the present paper. The SEDIM QAP includes some items related to justification and optimization of mammography exams as well as a proposal for the assignment of functions and responsibilities. A guide for the image and technical parameters quality evaluation is also included. Some keys on equipment acquisition, maintenance and on continuing education and information management can also be found in that document. (author)