iaea human health series publications - SEDIM

Appendix IISPECIFICATIONS OF TEST EQUIPMENTTABLE 23. SPECIFICATIONS OF TEST EQUIPMENT FOR RADIOGRAPHER’S TESTSItemFlat field phantomContrast objectBreast phantomModified TG18-QC (or SMPTE) test patternRequirementsA uniformly thick slab of PMMA. Typically, this should be 45 mm thick; however,a slab of another thickness that has been supplied by the manufacturer for flat fieldcorrection would also be acceptable.1 mm deep, 25 mm diameter depression in the PMMA slab (this depression must havea smooth, flat bottom); 1 mm thick, 25 mm diameter PMMA disc; or 0.2 mm thicksquare of aluminium, 10 mm on a side.Should allow assessment of background optical density, image quality and contrast.Accrediting/regulatory authorities in some jurisdictions may require that a specificmake and model be used.Unit specific TG18-QC comprehensive display QC pattern with DICOM header andimage format identical to that produced by the acquisition system. See the IAEA website for availability of test patterns: http://humanhealth.iaea.orgPatient images —Magnifying lensThermometerBathroom scale and towelDensitometer4× to 5× magnification, only for images on hard copy.Preferably mounted on the wall of the digital mammography room.The scale should be a flat, conventional, analogue type. Household digital scalessample the data and may not respond properly as additional pressure is applied slowlyto the scale. Digital scales designed specifically to measure compression force inmammography may be used.Capable of measuring in the range of 0–4.0 OD and accurate to within ±0.02 OD.TABLE 24. SPECIFICATIONS OF TEST EQUIPMENT FOR MEDICAL PHYSICIST’S TESTSItemBreast phantomRequirementsNationally or internationally recognized breast phantom (e.g. ACR accreditationphantom). The phantom contains structures that mimic those that must be detected inmammography.PMMA (AEC) Able to provide thicknesses of 20, 45 and 70 mm (suggested thicknesses: 25, 25and 20). Thickness precision ±0.5 mm. Rectangular with dimensions ≥150 mm ×100 mm, or semicircular with radius ≥120 mm.PMMA or aluminiumSpacers (rigid expanded polystyrene orequivalent)Contrast object45 mm thick PMMA or 2.54 mm thick aluminium, large enough to cover the entireradiation field. a25 mm thick PMMA or 1.27 mm thick aluminium for magnification test.8 mm and 20 mm thickness to fit over the AEC PMMA phantom. Other thicknessesmay also be desirable.Aluminium square 10 mm on a side and with a thickness of 0.2 mm, or PMMA discwith a diameter of 25 mm and a thickness of 1 mm.140