Search results
Jun 18, 2021 · Breast cancer remains the most common nonskin cancer, the second leading cause of cancer deaths, and the leading cause of premature death in US women. Mammography screening has been proven effective in reducing breast cancer deaths in women age 40 years and older. A mortality reduction of 40% is possible with regular screening. Treatment advances cannot overcome the disadvantage of being ...
Breast screening uses mammography radiography to detect small changes in the breast before other symptoms or signs of breast cancer develop. If breast cancer is found at an early stage, there is an increased chance of breast-conserving surgery and a better prognosis for long-term survival. The NHS Breast Screening Programme saves around 1300 ...
- The 4-Tier Structure and Related Roles
- Quality Assurance Framework
- CORE Breast Screening Standards For Mammographers
- Health and Safety
- Mammographic Practice
- Mammography Equipment and Fault Reporting
- Performing The Mammogram
- Clinical Image Quality and Image Quality Assessment
- Specific Client Groups
- Staffing, Training and Continuing Professional Development
There are currently 4 levels of mammographic practice within the NHS BSP. Each level of practice has specific roles and responsibilities.
Responsibilities for quality assurance
The screening quality assurance service (SQAS) in the NHS BSPprovides a framework for mammographers to: 1. understand individual and unit performance relating to quality of mammography and cancer detection 2. develop their performance in all areas relating to radiographic aspects of breast screening 3. identify educational and development needs 4. improve understanding of the breast screening programme and the mammographer’s role in the team 5. understand that mammographic QA and quality cont...
Regional QA activity – the PCA for radiography
The PCA for radiography within each region is responsible for leading on mammographic quality assurance. This requires an in-depth knowledge of the practices and processes for delivering excellent patient care. The role helps the SQASto deliver effective assurance of the mammographic quality of screening services and includes peer review, support and advice. The primary aspects of the role include: 1. providing ongoing, expert regular and ad-hoc advice to the regional QAservice 2. advising on...
Regional QA activity: multi-disciplinary quality assurance visits
These take place at intervals prescribed by the SQASand examine all aspects of screening programme performance. They involve monitoring whether services have achieved acceptable standards (as a minimum), identifying variance from these standards and supporting professionals working in the local programme to maintain and improve standards. Each service has a visit which includes satellite units. Visits include examination of a ‘right results’ process and mammographic reviews of performance. Th...
Core programme standards for mammographers working in the NHS BSPare: 1. to achieve optimum image quality 2. to limit radiation dose 3. to minimise the number of repeat examinations Excellence in mammographic practice will contribute to the achievement of a range of core programme standards in addition to those listed above. The full list of standa...
Mammographers are responsible for ensuring that the screening environment is safe for themselves and for women attending screening. All mammographers must understand and adhere to local health and safety rules and regulations. It is their responsibility to make sure that they are up to date with all relevant policies and procedures, guidance and le...
Informed choice in breast screening
The breast screening programme invitation leaflet and breast screening easy guide support women in making an informed choice about whether to attend for breast screening. Current thinking and legal and professional frameworks in the area of informed choice and consent are subject to change, so mammographers have a professional responsibility to keep their knowledge up to date in this as in all areas of their practice (HCPCstandards).
Informed consent to mammography
If a woman attends for breast screening, this implies consent. A woman may withdraw this at any time during the examination. If the woman expresses any misgivings or uncertainties about participating in screening, the mammographer should do everything possible to sensitively address these concerns at the time. Assistant practitioners should refer to their supervising registered radiographer whenever they are unable to answer questions fully or are asked about issues beyond their scope of prac...
Assistant practitioners and consent
Assistant practitionerswho are trained via an accredited or approved academic programme and are competency-assessed may take consent to mammography as one of the responsibilities delegated to them by registered radiographers. However, this is limited to women who are co-operative and able to communicate their consent. If consent is in doubt, the supervising registered radiographer must be consulted.
Screening services and the National Coordinating Centre for the Physics of Mammography
The NCCPM has oversight of the performance of all mammography equipment in the NHS BSP. The NCCPM: 1. maintains a database of equipment used by the NHS BSP 2. monitors all equipment faults in the NHS BSP 3. meets with manufacturers and servicing agents to discuss with them problems with equipment nationally 4. works collaboratively with NHS BSPcolleagues to evaluate new equipment A review of NHS BSP equipment and equipment faults is prepared every 6 months and published internally by the NHS...
Responsibilities of services to report to the NCCPM
Units must report all equipment faults to the NCCPM using the prescribed format within required timescales. Any actual or potential serious equipment fault should be reported immediately through their local employer reporting system. The Medicines and Healthcare Products Regulatory Agency (MRHA), SQAS, NCCPMand national breast screening programme manager should also be informed as soon as possible.
Introduction
The female breast is composed of soft tissues with inherently low radiographic contrast and little variation in attenuation coefficients. A highly sensitive and sophisticated form of diagnostic radiography is therefore required to demonstrate abnormal pathology reliably and consistently. Mammography has been described as “the science of imaging, and the art of positioning”. Successful mammography is dependent on the performance of the equipment, the expertise of the mammographer and the co-op...
Partial mammography
Where it is not possible to perform a complete examination and (in the mammographer’s professional judgement) a complete examination would not be achievable if repeated, the mammographer should explain this to the woman and provide the NHS information leaflet on incomplete mammography. Partial mammography should be recorded on the the National Breast Screening System (NBSS) so that a partial results letter can be generated. If the operator can screen at least half of 1 breast, in any view, th...
Subcutaneous mastectomy
If a woman has had a subcutaneous mastectomy with implants, it is not necessary to perform mammography on that breast as all breast tissue should have been removed. The other breast should be screened as usual.
When evaluating both the medio-lateral oblique (MLO) and cranio-caudal (CC) images, the following criteria are used to judge the quality of the images.
Clinical signs and symptoms
The mammographer should note if an individual presents with: 1. a recent lump in the breast (a long-standing lump which has been previously investigated and diagnosed need not be recalled unless the client reports a change in the lump) 2. distortion or change in the shape of the breast (a mass may be palpable) 3. nipple eczema (this includes recent eczema that has just healed) 4. recent nipple inversion (this may be caused by cancer and requires assessment; it is important that mammographers...
Application of the equality act in breast screening
Under the Equality Act, certain duties are expected of all public organisations. These are: 1. to eliminate unlawful discrimination, harassment, victimisation and any other conduct prohibited by the Act 2. to advance equality of opportunity between people who share a protected characteristic and people who do not share it 3. to foster good relations between people who share a protected characteristic and people who do not share it Having ‘due regard’ means consciously thinking about these dut...
Screening women with implanted medical devices
The following examinations should only be undertaken by a HCPC-registered radiography practitioner.
Staffing levels
It is important that appropriate staffing levels are maintained to ensure that the quality of the service is not compromised. The minimum screening examination for women attending the NHS BSPis 2 views at all screens, and 6-minute appointments are acceptable for most routine screening of women up to their 71st birthday depending on uptake. Screening services should specify the number of mammographers needed, and should take account of the local configuration of services, the local skill mix a...
Performance and development review
Regular review of professional performance is essential to ensure that high quality imaging is both achieved and maintained for each individual member of staff. The mammographers in the breast screening programme should receive regular feedback on their performance. This is achieved by participation in formal appraisal and performance review schemes, through informal discussions within the breast screening team and by peer review. Regular peer review of clinical image quality should be conduc...
IRMER training of practitioners and operators
Professional training will ensure that topics specified in IRMER guidance are covered for mammographers working in the NHS BSP (see Summary of IRMER responsibilities). All operators must demonstrate competency in the use of mammographic equipment. Employers are expected to ensure that relevant staff have continuing education and training in new techniques and radiation protection as appropriate. Records of training must be maintained by the employer and be available for inspection.
Breast screening started in the UK in 1988, before the UK NSC was formed. The committee has therefore not formally considered the evidence for screening for breast cancer. In 2012, the government asked Sir Michael Marmot to chair an independent review of the evidence for breast screening. He found that in the UK the screening programme prevents ...
31 October 2021 Promotional material Breast screening: breast implant guidelines. 4 August 2022 ... Added 'Breast screening: partial or incomplete mammography' to the collection.
mammography screening starting at age 40 to maximize these bene fits. Both bene ts and risks of mammography screening should be considered to assist women in making informed choices. Benefits of Mammography Screening Mammography screening has been proven effective in reducing breast cancer death in women age 40 years and over [4,9,13-17].
People also ask
When should a woman get a mammography screening?
Who is eligible for breast cancer screening?
When should a woman be screened for breast cancer?
Does screening mammography reduce breast cancer-related mortality?
Is there evidence for breast cancer screening?
How many women have a mammogram if they have invasive breast cancer?
Jan 1, 2021 · The USPSTF recommends biennial screening mammography for women 50 to 74 years of age. 26 This recommendation excludes women 40 to 49 years of age because the number needed to invite (NNI) of 1,904 ...
