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    Rpdir-P19.10 Aec Web

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    Ali Mirza
    This document provides guidance on optimizing radiation protection during mammography by testing the performance of the automatic exposure control (AEC) system. It describes testing the AEC's ability to maintain consistent optical density values under varying technical conditions like object thickness and tube voltage. Tests are outlined to evaluate the AEC's short-term and long-term reproducibility, as well as its ability to compensate for differences in object thickness and tube voltage. Frequency and acceptable tolerance ranges are provided for each test. The goal is to ensure radiation doses are kept as low as reasonably achievable while maintaining image quality.

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    © All Rights Reserved
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    Rpdir-P19.10 Aec Web

    Uploaded by

    Ali Mirza
    18 views12 pages
    This document provides guidance on optimizing radiation protection during mammography by testing the performance of the automatic exposure control (AEC) system. It describes testing the AEC's ability to maintain consistent optical density values under varying technical conditions like object thickness and tube voltage. Tests are outlined to evaluate the AEC's short-term and long-term reproducibility, as well as its ability to compensate for differences in object thickness and tube voltage. Frequency and acceptable tolerance ranges are provided for each test. The goal is to ensure radiation doses are kept as low as reasonably achievable while maintaining image quality.

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    RPDIR-P19.10_AEC_WEB

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    This document provides guidance on optimizing radiation protection during mammography by testing the performance of the automatic exposure control (AEC) system. It describes testing the AEC's ability to maintain consistent optical density values under varying technical conditions like object thickness and tube voltage. Tests are outlined to evaluate the AEC's short-term and long-term reproducibility, as well as its ability to compensate for differences in object thickness and tube voltage. Frequency and acceptable tolerance ranges are provided for each test. The goal is to ensure radiation doses are kept as low as reasonably achievable while maintaining image quality.

    Copyright:

    © All Rights Reserved
    Download as PPT, PDF, TXT or read online from Scribd
    Download as ppt, pdf, or txt
    18 views12 pages

    Rpdir-P19.10 Aec Web

    Uploaded by

    Ali Mirza
    This document provides guidance on optimizing radiation protection during mammography by testing the performance of the automatic exposure control (AEC) system. It describes testing the AEC's ability to maintain consistent optical density values under varying technical conditions like object thickness and tube voltage. Tests are outlined to evaluate the AEC's short-term and long-term reproducibility, as well as its ability to compensate for differences in object thickness and tube voltage. Frequency and acceptable tolerance ranges are provided for each test. The goal is to ensure radiation doses are kept as low as reasonably achievable while maintaining image quality.

    Copyright:

    © All Rights Reserved
    Download as PPT, PDF, TXT or read online from Scribd
    Download as ppt, pdf, or txt
    of 12

    IAEA Training Material on Radiation Protection in Diagnostic and Interventional Radiology

    RADIATION PROTECTION IN
    DIAGNOSTIC AND
    INTERVENTIONAL RADIOLOGY

    Part 19.10: Optimization of protection in


    mammography
    Practical exercise

    IAEA
    International Atomic Energy Agency
    Contents

    • To be able to apply quality control


    protocol to mammography equipment
    • To measure the AEC performance
    • Optical density control setting
    • Short term reproducibility
    • Long term reproducibility
    • Object thickness compensation
    • Tube voltage compensation

    IAEA 19.10: Optimization of protection in mammography 2


    IAEA Training Material on Radiation Protection in Diagnostic and Interventional Radiology

    Part 19.10: Optimization of protection in


    mammography

    AEC
    (Automatic Exposure Control)

    IAEA
    International Atomic Energy Agency
    AEC system

    • The performance of the Automatic Exposure


    Control (AEC) system can be described by
    the reproducibility and accuracy of the
    automatic optical density control under
    varying conditions, e.g., different object
    thicknesses and tube voltages.
    • An essential prerequisite for these
    measurements is a stable operating film-
    processor and the use of the reference
    cassette.
    IAEA 19.10: Optimization of protection in mammography 4
    Equipment needed

    • PMMA: plates 20 x 300 x 300 mm


    • Densitometer
    • Reference cassette
    • Dosimeter

    IAEA 19.10: Optimization of protection in mammography 5


    Optical density control setting:
    central value and difference per step

    • Produce exposures with a breast equivalent


    phantom material with varying positions of
    the optical density control selector
    • A target value for the mean optical density
    should be established according to local
    preference.

    IAEA 19.10: Optimization of protection in mammography 6


    OD control setting: central value and
    difference per step

    Limiting value : The film density (base + fog


    included) at the reference point should
    remain within ± 0.20 in density of
    the target value.
    Target value is typically in the range: 1.30-1.80
    (base + fog included)
    The desirable control step difference is 0.10; 
    0.20 per step is acceptable
    Adjustable range > 1.00
    Frequency : Step size: every six months
    Central density: daily

    IAEA 19.10: Optimization of protection in mammography 7


    (AEC) - Short term reproducibility

    • Position the dosimeter in the x-ray beam but


    without covering the AEC-detector.
    • The short term reproducibility of the AEC system is
    the deviation of the radiation dose for five
    exposures with a breast equivalent phantom
    Limiting value : The deviation must be < ± 5%;
    desirable would be < ± 2%.
    Frequency : Every six months

    IAEA 19.10: Optimization of protection in mammography 8


    (AEC) - Long term reproducibility

    • The long term reproducibility can be


    assessed from the measurement of the film
    optical density resulting from the exposure of
    a breast equivalent phantom
    Limiting value : < ± 0.20 optical density
    acceptable;
    < ± 0.15 desirable
    Frequency :Daily

    IAEA 19.10: Optimization of protection in mammography 9


    Object thickness compensation (AEC)

    • Compensation for object thickness is measured by


    exposures of PMMA plates in the thickness range
    20 to 40 mm, using the clinical setting for the AEC

    Limiting value : All density variations must be


    within ± 0.20 of the target density.
    Desirable : ± 0.15
    Frequency : Weekly

    IAEA 19.10: Optimization of protection in mammography 10


    Tube voltage compensation (AEC)

    • Compensation for tube voltage is measured over


    the clinical range of kV, filters, and target materials

    Limiting value : All density variations must be


    within ± 0.15 of the target
    density; Desirable : ± 0.10
    Frequency : Every six months

    IAEA 19.10: Optimization of protection in mammography 11


    Where to Get More Information

    European protocol for the quality control of the


    physical and technical aspects of mammography
    screening. http://euref.org/index.php?
    option=com_phocadownload&view=category&id=
    1&Itemid=8

    American College of Radiology Mammography


    Quality Control Manual, Reston VA, 1999.

    IAEA 15.3: Optimization of protection in radiography 12

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