Quality Assurance and Quality Control

Test on beam quality assessment (half-value layer measurement) is performed by the:

1. Mammographer

2. Medical physicist

3. Technologist

4. Radiologist

2

Beam quality assessment in a general test performed by the medical physicist.

In quality control, the standards refers to:

1. Action taken on a regular basis

2. Action taken to eliminate potential problems

3. Reference calibrations or measurements to check accuracy

4. Measurement variations allowed

3

Standards are reference objects or devices with known values used to check the accuracy of other measurement devices.

The person responsible for overseeing all the activities of the mammographer and the medical physicist is:

1. Quality control radiographer

2. State inspector

3. MQSA inspector

4. Radiologist

4

It is the radiologist's responsibility to oversee the activities of all personnel responsible for the quality assurance process.

Which of the following QC duties is the responsibility of the medial physicists?

1. Phantom image

2. Visual checklist

3. Average glandular dose

4. Compression force

3

The average glandular dose is an annual test done by the medical physicists. The phantom test is done weekly by the technologist. The visual checklist is done monthly by the technologist. The compression force test is done semiannually by the technologist.

The ability of an x-ray tube to always produce the same intensity of radiation when the same set of technical factors is used to make an exposure is called:

1. Radiation output

2. Exposure time

3. Exposure reproducibility

4. kV accuracy

3

The exposure reproducibility is a check of the AEC.

The system should deliver a consistent optical density regardless of compressed thickness and composition. The kV accuracy ensures that the kV selected is within 5% of the indicated kV.

The radiation output is the selected kV and mA. The exposure time is the milliseconds of the actual exposure.

The MQSA standards were enacted:

1. Because mammography was overregulation

2. To address the poor quality of mammograms that were available

3. To enforce continuing education for the radiologic technologist

4. To enforce continuing education for the radiologist

2

MQSA was enacted to ensure quality patient care and imaging for patients needing a mammogram. The MQSA involves regular checks of the training and continuing education of radiologist, technologist, and medical physicists.

The repeated image is:

1. Any image that is rejected

2. An image that is repeated and results in radiation dose to the patient

3. The magnified image requested by the radiologist

4. An image taken during quality control tests

2

All images repeated that result in an additional exposure to the patient are considered repeated images. Images that are used in quality control and do not cause additional patient dose are considered rejects, not repeats.

The person responsible for performing evaluations of and generating reports on the mammo-graphic unit is the:

1. Radiologic technologist

2. Mammographer

3. Medical physicist

4. Radiologist

3

It is the responsibility of the medical physicist to regularly check the mammography unit and component parts and to generate reports as needed.

A test used to determine whether the time of exposure indicated by the control panel is the same as that delivered by the X-ray tube is performed by the:

1. Technologist

2. Physicist

3. Quality assurance technologist

4. Radiologist

2

Tests on the x-ray tube are generally performed by the medical physicist.

A quality control test performed to check the random disturbance in digital signals that obscures or reduces image clarity is:

1. Detector calibration

2. SNR

3. Flat-field evaluation

4. Monitor calibration

2

The signal-to-noise ratio (SNR) is a random disturbance that obscures or reduces image clarity. Decreased SNR will give the image a grainy or mottled appearance. The modulation transfer function (MTF) checks the consistency of the contrast-to-noise ratio (CNR) and ensures adequate contrast over a specific spatial frequency range. The detector evaluation ensures adequate and consistent quality images acquired by the detector and displayed on the acquisition workstation (AWS) or printer.