Inspection Results of Mammography Facilities in the U.S.
Author Information
Author(s): David C. Spelic, R.V. Kaczmarek, M. Hilohi, S. Belella
Primary Institution: Food and Drug Administration
Hypothesis
What are the significant factors affecting mammography quality in the United States?
Conclusion
Mammography facilities have improved technical performance, leading to better image quality and increased screening exam volumes.
Supporting Evidence
- Approximately 36 million screening mammography exams were conducted in 2006, almost triple the volume from 1997.
- Digital mammography is now used in about 14% of MQSA-certified facilities.
- Improvements in mammography quality were observed, including better image quality and reduced dose variability.
Takeaway
This study looked at how well mammography facilities in the U.S. are doing and found that they are getting better at taking pictures of breasts to check for cancer.
Methodology
Trained inspectors collected data on X-ray technical factors, exposure measurements, image quality evaluations, and film-processing environment inspections.
Limitations
The study does not account for contributions from Department of Veterans Affairs facilities that may perform mammography but are not required to comply with MQSA regulations.
Participant Demographics
The study included approximately 8,834 MQSA-certified mammography facilities across the U.S.
Statistical Information
P-Value
p < 0.001
Statistical Significance
p < 0.001
Digital Object Identifier (DOI)
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