title: Good reasons to implement quality assurance in nationwide breast cancer screening programs in Croatia and Serbia: results from a pilot study.
abstract: The purpose of this study is to investigate the need for and the possible achievements of a comprehensive QA programme and to look at effects of simple corrective actions on image quality in Croatia and in Serbia. The paper focuses on activities related to the technical and radiological aspects of QA. The methodology consisted of two phases. The aim of the first phase was the initial assessment of mammography practice in terms of image quality, patient dose and equipment performance in selected number of mammography units in Croatia and Serbia. Subsequently, corrective actions were suggested and implemented. Then the same parameters were re-assessed. Most of the suggested corrective actions were simple, low-cost and possible to implement immediately, as these were related to working habits in mammography units, such as film processing and darkroom conditions. It has been demonstrated how simple quantitative assessment of image quality can be used for optimisation purposes. Analysis of image quality parameters as OD, gradient and contrast demonstrated general similarities between mammography practices in Croatia and Serbia. The applied methodology should be expanded to larger number of hospitals and applied on a regular basis.
authors.affiliation: Vinca Institute of Nuclear Sciences, Radiation Protection Laboratory, M. P. Alasa 12-14, Vinca, P.O. Box 522, 11001 Belgrade, Serbia. ociraj@vinca.rs
authors.forename: Olivera
authors.initials: O
authors.lastname: Ciraj-Bjelac
authors.forename: Dario
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Faj
authors.forename: Damir
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Stimac
authors.forename: Dusko
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Kosutic
authors.forename: Danijela
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Arandjic
authors.forename: Hrvoje
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Brkic
mesh_terms: D001943:Breast Neoplasms / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging* / Q000453:epidemiology; D017523:Croatia / Q000453:epidemiology; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008327:Mammography / Q000592:standards*; D008403:Mass Screening / Q000592:standards*; D010865:Pilot Projects; D017410:Practice Guidelines as Topic; D011785:Quality Assurance, Health Care; D011829:Radiation Dosage; D055771:Serbia / Q000453:epidemiology