Comparison of mammogram quality

Po podatkih Registra raka za Slovenijo se obolevnost raka na dojki povečuje od leta 1950, zato je mamografija tako pri nas kot v svetu še vedno ključnega pomena pri njegovem odkrivanju. Poleg pravilne pozicije dojke imata kontrastnost in pravilna počrnitev velik pomen pri izdelavi kvalitetnega rentgenograma. Naredili smo dve ločeni raziskavi z dvema različnima fantomoma. V prvi raziskavi smo ocenjevali tehnično kakovost rentgenskih slik mamografskega fantoma, ki so bile narejene z različnimi ekspozicijskimi nastavitvami in različno starostjo ojačevalnih folij. V drugi raziskavi smo ocenjevali tehnično kakovost rentgenskih slik homogenega mamografskega fantoma, ki so bile narejene z enakimi ekspozicijskimi nastavitvami, vendar z različno starimi folijami. Rezultate smo predstavili v obliki razpredelnic in grafov ter prišli do zaključka, da starost ojačevalnih folij sama po sebi bistveno ne vpliva na kvaliteto rentgenskega posnetka, če ojačevalne folije niso mehansko poškodovane. Mehanske poškodbe pa so kljub previdnemu rokovanju zaposlenih z leti pričakovane, zato je menjava kaset in folij nujna vsakih 5 do 10 let, vsekakor pa takoj po mehanski poškodbi le teh.According to the data of the Cancer Registry for Slovenia, breast cancer morbidity has been increasing since 1950therefore, mammography is still of key importance in detecting this disease in Slovenia as well as in the world. In addition to the correct position of the breast, the contras and the correct blackening are of great importance in making a quality X-ray image. We carried out two separate studies with two different phantoms. In the first study we evaluated the technical quality of mammography phantom images taken with different exposure settings and different foil age. In the second study we evaluated the technical quality of homogenous mammography phantom images taken with identical exposure settings but with foils of different ages. We presented the results in the form of tables and diagrams and came to the conclusion that the age of amplifying foils does not have a substantial influence on the quality of the X-ray images, unless the amplifying foils are mechanically damaged. However, despite the careful handling, mechanical damages are to be expected through the yearstherefore, cassettes and foils must be replaced every 5 to 10 years and in any case immediately after they have been mechanically damaged