Things You Should Know About Digital Mammography

When transitioning from analog to digital mammography we have the privilege of learning how to operate the unit and per-form the QC procedures from the very knowledgeable equipment applications specialists. This applications training is a very important part of the transition but for those of us who have no digital imaging training the “why" and "what does it mean" is elusive. Understanding what the QC procedures mean and why we are doing them is as important as how to perform them. Technical factors although typically automatic are very important to capture the important information needed to diagnose breast cancer. This technology requires new technique protocols and QC procedures which are manufacturer specific.
Join us to learn how digital imaging can be integrated into your existing mammography practice with minimal hassle and maximum results! You will be surprised to learn that the transition is easy and there is a new world of information that can be acquired using digital technology.

Course Topics
Introduction
•Breast Cancer Statistics
•MQSA Regulations for Digital Mammography
•Digital Mammography Terminology
Analog vs Digital
•Advantages
- FDA Approved Units
- Printers
- Detector Technologies
- Tubes and Filters
- Patient concerns
- Cancer detection for calcifications and masses
•Disadvantages
- Image Quality and Detector Size
- Works in Progress
- Direct Capture vs. Indirect Capture
- Time and cost
- Dose
Physics
•Digital Imaging Physics
•Sampling
•Matrix/Pixels
•Image Processing
•Image Storage
•PACS
Quality Control
•Detector Calibration
•Phantom Acquisition
•Phantom Image Quality
•Flat Field
•System operation/visual checklist
•Artifacts
Advanced Applications of Digital Mammography
•CAD
•Telemammography
•Contrast Enhanced Mammography
•Tomosynthesis
Changes in Radiologist Interpreting Methods
•Comparison films
•Call back rates
•Advantages of larger viewing stations
•Radiologist Assistance: automatic magnification station, annotation availability, zoom options, synchronization bilaterally, flip stations horizontal/vertical, inverted images
•Technologist Assistance: curved breast support, time consumption, patient information, image retention, and happy patients!