TY  - JOUR
AU  - Ciraj-Bjelac, Olivera
AU  - Faj, Dario
AU  - Stimac, Damir
AU  - Košutić, Duško D.
AU  - Aranđić, Danijela
AU  - Brkić, Hrvoje
PY  - 2011
UR  - https://vinar.vin.bg.ac.rs/handle/123456789/4280
AB  - The purpose of this study is to investigate the need for and the possible achievements of a comprehensive QA programme and to look at effects of simple corrective actions on image quality in Croatia and in Serbia. The paper focuses on activities related to the technical and radiological aspects of QA. The methodology consisted of two phases. The aim of the first phase was the initial assessment of mammography practice in terms of image quality, patient dose and equipment performance in selected number of mammography units in Croatia and Serbia. Subsequently, corrective actions were suggested and implemented. Then the same parameters were re-assessed. Most of the suggested corrective actions were simple, low-cost and possible to implement immediately, as these were related to working habits in mammography units, such as film processing and darkroom conditions. It has been demonstrated how simple quantitative assessment of image quality can be used for optimisation purposes. Analysis of image quality parameters as OD, gradient and contrast demonstrated general similarities between mammography practices in Croatia and Serbia. The applied methodology should be expanded to larger number of hospitals and applied on a regular basis. (C) 2009 Elsevier Ireland Ltd. All rights reserved.
T2  - European Journal of Radiology
T1  - Good reasons to implement quality assurance in nationwide breast cancer screening programs in Croatia and Serbia: Results from a pilot study
VL  - 78
IS  - 1
SP  - 122
EP  - 128
DO  - 10.1016/j.ejrad.2009.10.004
ER  - 

@article{
author = "Ciraj-Bjelac, Olivera and Faj, Dario and Stimac, Damir and Košutić, Duško D. and Aranđić, Danijela and Brkić, Hrvoje",
year = "2011",
abstract = "The purpose of this study is to investigate the need for and the possible achievements of a comprehensive QA programme and to look at effects of simple corrective actions on image quality in Croatia and in Serbia. The paper focuses on activities related to the technical and radiological aspects of QA. The methodology consisted of two phases. The aim of the first phase was the initial assessment of mammography practice in terms of image quality, patient dose and equipment performance in selected number of mammography units in Croatia and Serbia. Subsequently, corrective actions were suggested and implemented. Then the same parameters were re-assessed. Most of the suggested corrective actions were simple, low-cost and possible to implement immediately, as these were related to working habits in mammography units, such as film processing and darkroom conditions. It has been demonstrated how simple quantitative assessment of image quality can be used for optimisation purposes. Analysis of image quality parameters as OD, gradient and contrast demonstrated general similarities between mammography practices in Croatia and Serbia. The applied methodology should be expanded to larger number of hospitals and applied on a regular basis. (C) 2009 Elsevier Ireland Ltd. All rights reserved.",
journal = "European Journal of Radiology",
title = "Good reasons to implement quality assurance in nationwide breast cancer screening programs in Croatia and Serbia: Results from a pilot study",
volume = "78",
number = "1",
pages = "122-128",
doi = "10.1016/j.ejrad.2009.10.004"
}

Ciraj-Bjelac, O., Faj, D., Stimac, D., Košutić, D. D., Aranđić, D.,& Brkić, H.. (2011). Good reasons to implement quality assurance in nationwide breast cancer screening programs in Croatia and Serbia: Results from a pilot study. in European Journal of Radiology, 78(1), 122-128.
https://doi.org/10.1016/j.ejrad.2009.10.004

Ciraj-Bjelac O, Faj D, Stimac D, Košutić DD, Aranđić D, Brkić H. Good reasons to implement quality assurance in nationwide breast cancer screening programs in Croatia and Serbia: Results from a pilot study. in European Journal of Radiology. 2011;78(1):122-128.
doi:10.1016/j.ejrad.2009.10.004 .

Ciraj-Bjelac, Olivera, Faj, Dario, Stimac, Damir, Košutić, Duško D., Aranđić, Danijela, Brkić, Hrvoje, "Good reasons to implement quality assurance in nationwide breast cancer screening programs in Croatia and Serbia: Results from a pilot study" in European Journal of Radiology, 78, no. 1 (2011):122-128,
https://doi.org/10.1016/j.ejrad.2009.10.004 . .

TY  - JOUR
AU  - Faj, Dario
AU  - Posedel, Dario
AU  - Stimac, Damir
AU  - Ivezic, Zdravko
AU  - Kasabasic, Mladen
AU  - Ivkovic, Ana
AU  - Kubelka, Dragan
AU  - Ilakovac, Vesna
AU  - Brnic, Zoran
AU  - Ciraj-Bjelac, Olivera
PY  - 2008
UR  - https://vinar.vin.bg.ac.rs/handle/123456789/3584
AB  - A national audit of mammography equipment performance, image quality and dose has been conducted in Croatia. Film-processing parameters, optical density (OD), average glandular dose (AGD) to the standard breast, viewing conditions and image quality were examined using TOR(MAM) test object. Average film gradient ranged from 2.6 to 3.7, with a mean of 3.1. Tube voltage used for imaging of the standard 45 mm polymethylmethacrylate phantom ranged from 24 to 34 kV, and OD ranged from 0.75 to 1.94 with a mean of 1.26. AGD to the standard breast ranged from 0.4 to 2.3 mGy with a mean of 1.1 mGy. Besides clinical conditions, the authors have imaged the standard phantom in the referent conditions with 28 kV and OD as close as possible to 1.5. Then, AGD ranged from 0.5 to 2.6 mGy with a mean of 1.3 mGy. Image viewing conditions were generally unsatisfying with ambient light up to 500 lx and most of the viewing boxes with luminance between 1000 and 2000 cd per m(2). TOR(MAM) scoring of images taken in clinical and referent conditions was done by local radiologists in local image viewing conditions and by the referent radiologist in good image viewing conditions. Importance of OD and image viewing conditions for diagnostic information were analysed. The survey showed that the main problem in Croatia is the lack of written quality assurance/quality control (QA/QC) procedures. Consequently, equipment performance, image quality and dose are unstable and activities to improve image quality or to reduce the dose are not evidence-based. This survey also had an educational purpose, introducing in Croatia the QC based on European Commission Guidelines.
T2  - Radiation Protection Dosimetry
T1  - Survey of mammography practice in Croatia: equipment performance, image quality and dose
VL  - 131
IS  - 4
SP  - 535
EP  - 540
DO  - 10.1093/rpd/ncn283
ER  - 

@article{
author = "Faj, Dario and Posedel, Dario and Stimac, Damir and Ivezic, Zdravko and Kasabasic, Mladen and Ivkovic, Ana and Kubelka, Dragan and Ilakovac, Vesna and Brnic, Zoran and Ciraj-Bjelac, Olivera",
year = "2008",
abstract = "A national audit of mammography equipment performance, image quality and dose has been conducted in Croatia. Film-processing parameters, optical density (OD), average glandular dose (AGD) to the standard breast, viewing conditions and image quality were examined using TOR(MAM) test object. Average film gradient ranged from 2.6 to 3.7, with a mean of 3.1. Tube voltage used for imaging of the standard 45 mm polymethylmethacrylate phantom ranged from 24 to 34 kV, and OD ranged from 0.75 to 1.94 with a mean of 1.26. AGD to the standard breast ranged from 0.4 to 2.3 mGy with a mean of 1.1 mGy. Besides clinical conditions, the authors have imaged the standard phantom in the referent conditions with 28 kV and OD as close as possible to 1.5. Then, AGD ranged from 0.5 to 2.6 mGy with a mean of 1.3 mGy. Image viewing conditions were generally unsatisfying with ambient light up to 500 lx and most of the viewing boxes with luminance between 1000 and 2000 cd per m(2). TOR(MAM) scoring of images taken in clinical and referent conditions was done by local radiologists in local image viewing conditions and by the referent radiologist in good image viewing conditions. Importance of OD and image viewing conditions for diagnostic information were analysed. The survey showed that the main problem in Croatia is the lack of written quality assurance/quality control (QA/QC) procedures. Consequently, equipment performance, image quality and dose are unstable and activities to improve image quality or to reduce the dose are not evidence-based. This survey also had an educational purpose, introducing in Croatia the QC based on European Commission Guidelines.",
journal = "Radiation Protection Dosimetry",
title = "Survey of mammography practice in Croatia: equipment performance, image quality and dose",
volume = "131",
number = "4",
pages = "535-540",
doi = "10.1093/rpd/ncn283"
}

Faj, D., Posedel, D., Stimac, D., Ivezic, Z., Kasabasic, M., Ivkovic, A., Kubelka, D., Ilakovac, V., Brnic, Z.,& Ciraj-Bjelac, O.. (2008). Survey of mammography practice in Croatia: equipment performance, image quality and dose. in Radiation Protection Dosimetry, 131(4), 535-540.
https://doi.org/10.1093/rpd/ncn283

Faj D, Posedel D, Stimac D, Ivezic Z, Kasabasic M, Ivkovic A, Kubelka D, Ilakovac V, Brnic Z, Ciraj-Bjelac O. Survey of mammography practice in Croatia: equipment performance, image quality and dose. in Radiation Protection Dosimetry. 2008;131(4):535-540.
doi:10.1093/rpd/ncn283 .

Faj, Dario, Posedel, Dario, Stimac, Damir, Ivezic, Zdravko, Kasabasic, Mladen, Ivkovic, Ana, Kubelka, Dragan, Ilakovac, Vesna, Brnic, Zoran, Ciraj-Bjelac, Olivera, "Survey of mammography practice in Croatia: equipment performance, image quality and dose" in Radiation Protection Dosimetry, 131, no. 4 (2008):535-540,
https://doi.org/10.1093/rpd/ncn283 . .