California Code of Regulations › Title 17 - Public Health › Division 1 - State Department of Health Services › Chapter 5 - Sanitation (Environmental) › Subchapter 4 - Radiation › Group 3 - Standards for Protection Against Radiation › Article 4.5 - Requirements for the Use of X-Ray in Mammography › Section 30316.30 - Phantom Image Scoring Protocol

Current through Register 2024 Notice Reg. No. 28, July 12, 2024
(a)
						Each screen-film mammography system used to perform screening or diagnostic
						mammography shall achieve at least the minimum phantom image score specified through
						the protocol established by the facility's accreditation body in accordance with
						title 21, Code of Federal Regulations Section
						900.4(d)(3).
(b) Each screen-film mammography system not
						subject to subsection (a) shall achieve a minimum phantom image score of at least
						4.0 for fibers, 3.0 for specks, and 3.0 for masses by using the following protocol:
(1) For fibers: Begin with the largest fiber and
						move down in size, adding one point for each full fiber until a score of zero or one
						half is given, then stop. If the entire length of the fiber can be seen and its
						location and orientation are correct, that fiber receives a score of one. If at
						least half, but not all, of the fiber can be seen and its location and orientation
						are correct, that fiber receives a score of one half. If less than one half of a
						fiber can be seen or if the location or orientation is incorrect, that fiber
						receives a score of zero. After determining the last fiber to be counted, look at
						the overall background for artifacts. If there are background objects that are
						fiber-like in appearance and are of equal or greater brightness than the last
						visible half or full fiber counted, subtract the last half or full fiber
						scored.
(2) For speck groups: Begin with
						the largest speck group and move down in size adding one point for each full speck
						group until a score of one half or zero is given, then stop. If at least four of the
						specks in any group are visualized, the speck group is scored as one. If two or
						three specks in a group are visualized, the score for the group is one half. If one
						speck or no specks from a group are visualized, the score is zero. After determining
						the last speck group to receive a full or one-half point, look at the overall
						background for artifacts. If there are speck-like artifacts within the insert region
						of the phantom that are of equal or greater brightness than individual specks
						counted in the last visible half or full speck group counted, subtract the artifact
						speck from the observed specks, one by one. Repeat the scoring of the last visible
						speck group after these deductions.
(3)
						For masses: Begin with the largest mass and add one point for each full mass
						observed until a score of one half or zero is assigned, then stop. Score one for
						each mass that appears as a minus density object in the correct location that can be
						seen clearly enough to observe round, circumscribed borders. Score one-half if the
						mass is clearly present in the correct location, but the borders are not visualized
						as circular. After determining the last full or half mass to be counted, look at the
						overall background for artifacts. If there are background objects that are mass-like
						in appearance and are of equal or greater visibility than the last visible mass,
						subtract the last full or half point assigned from the original
						score.