IAEA TECDOC 1517 Quality control in mammography software

In October 2006, the IAEA published the TECDOC 1517 Quality Control in Mammography, whose main purpose was to give Latin American countries a protocol in Spanish with all necessary QC. This protocol harmonizes the tests and evaluation criteria of mammography equipment and its complementary equipment; it states the different responsibilities on all personnel and gives guidance on radiographic techniques. It was the joint effort of two ARCAL projects: RLA/6/043 and RLA/9/035. QC programs are needed to assure the final quality of mammography images and to optimize the radiation dose to the patients. Countries where national campaigns are used to improve the early detection of breast cancer among asymptomatic women require the establishment of QC programs. Specific software has been developed based on the TECDOC 1517 to facilitate the technologist, medical physicist and physician its implementation. It has a main menu bar tool and icons for rapid access to the different tests. The help option in each test pops a window with the same procedure written on the TECDOC for the user's convenience. The tests are divided on the same sections as in the document: visual inspection, storage of films, dark room, image system, radiological equipment, automatic exposure control, geometry, collimation, image visualization, film rejection analysis, image quality and dosimetry. On each test, data is introduced on specific color cells and when the user activates the calculation button, the results are compared against its tolerance levels, and indication of pass/fail is finally displayed. This software, available to all Member States, adds extra value to the TECDOC 1517 since errors in calculations will be reduced by its use. It will harmonize the way results are presented, it will facilitate comparisons, it reduces the time to evaluate the results of the test and finally it becomes a teaching tool for the TECDOC. (author)