ALTERNATIVE FIGURES-OF-MERIT IN DIGITAL MAMMOGRAPHY.
The aim of this study is to explore the use of a quality (Q) factor in digital mammography as a figure-of-merit. Q factors take a reference value into account and can be compared to a theoretical value. They are also intended to summarise the performance of any unit based on a number. The mean glandular dose (MGD)-normalised Q factors were also introduced based on the relationship of the Q factors with MGD. Interestingly, the automatic exposure control exposures did not render the maximum normalised Q factor values as expected, which could indicate the need for further optimisation. It was also noted that the Q factors and the CDMAM-related quality parameters can be confidently predicted for a given MGD which in turn may be compared to the measured values. This might be another way to consider or perform optimisation in digital mammography.
Faculty of Health Science, Medical Physics Department, University of Malta, Tal-Qroqq, MsidaMSD2090, Malta.
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M
Borg
Christie Medical Physics and Engineering, The Christie NHS Foundation Trust, ManchesterM20 4BX, UK.
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A
Konstantinidis
D004867:Equipment Design; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008327:Mammography / Q000295:instrumentation* / Q000592:standards*; D019047:Phantoms, Imaging; D011829:Radiation Dosage; D011857:Radiographic Image Interpretation, Computer-Assisted; D012016:Reference Values