Mammography screening has launched in
Austria. In contrast to all other European countries, ultrasound is included in
primary diagnostics. Therefore, quality assurance (QA) needs not only be
performed for mammography devices involved in screening, but also for ultrasound
devices. There is no common standard for ultrasound QA as it exists for
mammography which is based on EUREF protocol. This protocol was extended to
EUREF-OE to fit the specific situation in Austria. In the course of this
EUREF-OE extension a complete test concept for ultrasound devices was developed
to be performed mainly by inexperienced personnel.
The basis of
these tests is the guideline by EFSUMB (Guideline for Technical Quality Assurance (TQA)
of Ultrasound Devices (B-Mode) - Version 1.0 (July 2012)) recommending objective and user independent performance test
levels. Evaluation of all tests is based on software.
Simple and
easy-to-perform routine tests applicable not only to mammasonography were
developed mainly focusing on detecting transducer errors before they become
visible. The test concept comprises methods for initial testing of ultrasound
devices, monthly tests, and additional tests. Initial tests are performed with
a commercial ultrasound QA phantom providing basic values for the monthly
tests. Parameters evaluated are, among others, cyst contrast and resolution,
depth of penetration, and loss of elements. Monthly tests are performed without
any test object concentrating mainly on loss of elements. Additional tests will
be done if results deviate from monthly test reference values. This test
concept has been implemented and evaluated in the Austrian Mammography
Screening Pilot Project.
This test concept can be easily applied to other
fields in ultrasound diagnostics as well. The monthly test methods are easy to
learn and perform even by inexperienced personnel. Gradual changes can be
detected before they become visible. Quantitative evaluation follows and is
still under investigation.
