TITLE 32: ENERGY
CHAPTER II: ILLINOIS EMERGENCY MANAGEMENT AGENCY AND OFFICE OF HOMELAND SECURITY SUBCHAPTER b: RADIATION PROTECTION
PART 370
QUALITY STANDARDS AND CERTIFICATION REQUIREMENTS
FOR FACILITIES PERFORMING MAMMOGRAPHY
SECTION 370.10 SCOPE
Section 370.10 Scope
This Part establishes quality
standards and certification requirements for facilities performing mammography
to ensure that all mammography facilities are adequately and consistently
evaluated for compliance with the standards provided in this Part. The provisions
of this Part are in addition to and not in substitution for other applicable
provisions of 32 Ill. Adm. Code 310, 320, 340, 400, 401 and 410.
(Source: Amended at 24 Ill. Reg. 18258, effective December 1, 2000)
 | TITLE 32: ENERGY
CHAPTER II: ILLINOIS EMERGENCY MANAGEMENT AGENCY AND OFFICE OF HOMELAND SECURITY SUBCHAPTER b: RADIATION PROTECTION
PART 370
QUALITY STANDARDS AND CERTIFICATION REQUIREMENTS
FOR FACILITIES PERFORMING MAMMOGRAPHY
SECTION 370.20 DEFINITIONS
Section 370.20 Definitions
As used in this Part, the
following definitions apply:
"Accreditation body" or "body" means an
entity that has been approved by FDA to accredit mammography facilities.
"Action limits" or "action levels" means
the minimum and maximum values of a quality assurance measurement that can be
interpreted as representing acceptable performance with respect to the
parameter being tested. Values less than the minimum or greater than the
maximum action limit or level indicate that corrective action shall be taken by
the facility. Action limits or levels are also sometimes called control limits
or levels.
"Adverse event" means an undesirable experience
associated with mammography activities that include but are not limited to:
Poor image quality;
Failure to send mammography reports within 30 days to the
referring physician or in a timely manner to the self-referred patient; and
Use of personnel that do not meet the requirements of Section
370.70 of this Part.
"Agency" means the Illinois Emergency Management Agency.
"Air kerma" means kerma in a given mass of air.
The unit used to measure the quantity of air kerma is the Gray (Gy). For
x-rays with energies less than 300 kiloelectronvolts (keV), 1 Gy = 100 rad.
"Breast implant" means a prosthetic device
implanted in the breast.
"Calendar quarter" means any one of the following
time periods during a given year: January 1 through March 31, April 1 through
June 30, July 1 through September 30 or October 1 through December 31.
"Category I" means medical educational activities
that have been designated as Category I by the Accreditation Council for
Continuing Medical Education (ACCME), the American Osteopathic Association
(AOA), a state medical society or an equivalent organization.
"Certificate" means the certificate described in
Section 370.50 of this Part.
"Certification" means the process of approval of a
facility by the Agency to provide mammography services.
"Clinical image" means a mammogram.
"Consumer" means an individual who chooses to
comment or complain in reference to a mammography examination, including the
patient or representative of the patient (e.g., family member or referring
physician).
"Continuing education unit" or "continuing
education credit" means one contact hour of training.
"Contact hour" means an hour of training received
through direct instruction.
"Diagnostic mammography" means mammography
performed on a patient with:
clinical signs, symptoms or physical findings suggestive of
breast cancer;
an abnormal or questionable screening mammogram;
a history of breast cancer with breast conservation surgery
regardless of absence of clinical breast signs, symptoms or physical findings;
or
augmented breasts regardless of absence of clinical breast
signs, symptoms or physical findings.
AGENCY NOTE: Diagnostic mammography is also called
problem-solving mammography or consultative mammography. This definition
excludes mammography performed during invasive interventions for localization
or biopsy procedures.
"Direct instruction" means:
Face-to-face interaction between instructor and students, as
when the instructor provides a lecture, conducts demonstrations or reviews
student performance; or
The administration and correction of student examinations by
an instructor with subsequent feedback to the students.
"Direct supervision" means that:
During joint interpretation of mammograms, the supervising
interpreting physician reviews, discusses, and confirms the diagnosis of the
physician being supervised and signs the resulting report before it is entered
into the patient's records; or
During the performance of a mammography examination or survey
of the facility's equipment and quality assurance program, the supervisor is
present to observe and correct, as needed, the performance of the individual
being supervised who is performing the examination or conducting the survey.
"Director" means the Director of the Illinois
Emergency Management Agency.
"Established operating level" means the value of a
particular quality assurance parameter that has been established as an
acceptable normal level by the facility's quality assurance program.
"Facility" or "mammography installation"
means a hospital, outpatient department, clinic, radiology practice, mobile
unit, office of a physician or other facility that conducts mammography
activities, including operation of equipment to produce a mammogram, processing
of the mammogram, initial interpretation of the mammogram and maintaining
viewing conditions for that interpretation.
"First allowable time" means the earliest time a
resident physician is eligible to take the diagnostic radiology boards from an
FDA-designated certifying body.
"FDA" means the U.S. Food and Drug Administration.
"Interim regulations" means the regulations
entitled "Requirements for Accrediting Bodies of Mammography
Facilities" (58 FR 67558-67565) and "Quality Standards and
Certification Requirements for Mammography Facilities" (58 FR
67565-67572), published by FDA on December 21, 1993, and amended on September
30, 1994 (59 FR 49808-49813). These regulations established the standards that
had to be met by mammography facilities in order to lawfully operate between
October 1, 1994 and April 28, 1999.
"Interpreting physician" means a licensed physician
who interprets mammograms and who meets the requirements of Section 370.70(a)
of this Part.
"Lead interpreting physician" means the
interpreting physician assigned the general responsibility for ensuring that a
facility's quality assurance program meets all of the requirements of Sections
370.100, 370.110, 370.120(b) and (c) and 370.130 of this Part. The
administrative title and other supervisory responsibilities of the individual,
if any, are left to the discretion of the facility.
"Mammogram" means radiographic image produced
through mammography.
"Mammographic modality" means a technology for
radiography of the breast. Examples are screen-film mammography and digital
mammography.
"Mammography" means radiography of the breast.
"Mammography equipment evaluation" means an onsite
assessment of mammography unit or image processor performance by a medical
physicist for the purpose of making a preliminary determination as to whether
the equipment meets all of the applicable standards in this Part.
"Mammography medical outcomes audit" means a
systematic collection of mammography results and the comparison of those
results with outcomes data.
"Mammography unit" or "units" means an
assemblage of components for the production of x-rays for use during
mammography, including, at a minimum, an x-ray generator, an x-ray control, a
tube housing assembly, a beam limiting device and the supporting structures for
these components.
"Mean optical density" means the average of the
optical densities (OD) measured using phantom thicknesses of 2, 4 and 6
centimeters with values of kilovolt peak (kVp) clinically appropriate for those
thicknesses.
"Medical physicist" means a person trained in
evaluating the performance of mammography equipment and facility quality
assurance programs and who meets the qualifications set forth in Section
370.70(c) of this Part.
"MQSA" means the federal Mammography Quality
Standards Act of 1992, as amended by the Mammography Quality Standards
Reauthorization Act of 1998.
"Multi-reading" means two or more physicians, at
least one of whom is an interpreting physician, interpreting the same
mammogram.
"Patient" means any individual who undergoes a
mammography evaluation in a facility.
"Phantom" means a test object used to simulate
radiographic characteristics of compressed breast tissue and containing
components that radiographically model aspects of breast disease and cancer.
It is equivalent to a nominal 4.2 centimeter compressed breast of average
density (i.e., 50 percent adipose and 50 percent glandular tissue) and shall
contain the following objects:
Spherical masses, composed of phenolic plastic, with
thicknesses of: 2.00, 1.00, 0.75, 0.50 and 0.25 millimeter;
Specks, composed of aluminum oxide, with diameters of: 0.54,
0.40, 0.32, 0.24 and 0.16 millimeter;
Fibers, composed of nylon, with thicknesses of: 1.56, 1.12,
0.89, 0.75, 0.54 and 0.40 millimeter.
AGENCY NOTE: The Mammographic Accreditation Phantom Model
156, manufactured by Radiation Measurements, Inc., meets the above criteria and
was chosen for use by the American College of Radiology's Mammography
Accreditation Program.
"Phantom image" means a radiographic image of a
phantom.
"Physical science" means physics, chemistry,
radiation science (including medical physics and health physics) and
engineering.
"Positive mammogram" means a mammogram that has an
overall assessment of findings that are either "suspicious" or
"highly suggestive of malignancy."
"Provisional certificate" means the provisional
certificate described in Section 370.50(b) of this Part.
"Qualified instructor" means an individual whose
training and experience adequately prepares him or her to carry out specified
training assignments. Interpreting physicians, radiologic technologists or
medical physicists who meet the requirements of Section 370.70 of this Part
would be considered qualified instructors in their respective areas of
mammography. Other examples of individuals who may be qualified instructors
for the purpose of providing training to meet the requirements of this Part
include, but are not limited to, instructors in a post-high school training
institution and manufacturer's representatives.
"Quality control technologist" means an individual
meeting the requirements of Section 370.100(a)(4) of this Part who is
responsible for those quality assurance responsibilities not assigned to the
lead interpreting physician or to the medical physicist.
"Radiologic technologist" means an individual
specifically trained in the use of radiographic equipment and the positioning
of patients for radiographic examinations and when performing mammography
without direct supervision, also meets the requirements set forth in Section
370.70(b) of this Part.
"Screening mammography" means mammography performed
on an asymptomatic patient to detect the presence of breast cancer at an early
stage.
"Serious adverse event" means an adverse advent
that may significantly compromise clinical outcomes, or an adverse event for
which a facility fails to take appropriate corrective action in a timely
manner.
"Serious complaint" means a report of a serious
adverse event.
"Standard breast" means a 4.2 centimeter (cm) thick
compressed breast consisting of 50 percent glandular and 50 percent adipose
tissue.
"Survey" means an onsite physics consultation and
evaluation of a facility quality assurance program performed by a medical
physicist.
"Time cycle" means the film development time.
"Traceable to a national standard" means an
instrument is calibrated at either the National Institute of Standards and
Technology (NIST) or at a calibration laboratory that participates in a
proficiency program with NIST at least once every 2 years and the results of
the proficiency test conducted within 24 months of calibration show agreement
within plus or minus 3 percent of the national standard in the mammography
energy range.
(Source: Amended at 29 Ill.
Reg. 20963, effective December 16, 2005)
 | TITLE 32: ENERGY
CHAPTER II: ILLINOIS EMERGENCY MANAGEMENT AGENCY AND OFFICE OF HOMELAND SECURITY SUBCHAPTER b: RADIATION PROTECTION
PART 370
QUALITY STANDARDS AND CERTIFICATION REQUIREMENTS
FOR FACILITIES PERFORMING MAMMOGRAPHY
SECTION 370.30 INCORPORATIONS BY REFERENCE
Section 370.30
Incorporations by Reference
All rules, standards and
guidelines of agencies of the United States or nationally recognized
organizations or associations that are incorporated by reference in this Part
are incorporated as of the date specified in the reference and do not include
any later amendments or editions. Copies of rules, standards and guidelines
that have been incorporated by reference are available for public inspection and
copying at the Illinois Emergency Management Agency, 1035 Outer Park Drive,
Springfield, Illinois.
(Source: Amended at 29 Ill.
Reg. 20963, effective December 16, 2005)
 | TITLE 32: ENERGY
CHAPTER II: ILLINOIS EMERGENCY MANAGEMENT AGENCY AND OFFICE OF HOMELAND SECURITY SUBCHAPTER b: RADIATION PROTECTION
PART 370
QUALITY STANDARDS AND CERTIFICATION REQUIREMENTS
FOR FACILITIES PERFORMING MAMMOGRAPHY
SECTION 370.40 EXEMPTIONS
Section 370.40 Exemptions
a) Mammography units used only during invasive interventions for
localization or biopsy procedures are exempt from the requirements of this
Part, except that such systems shall satisfy the criteria specified in Section
370.170 of this Part.
b) Each mobile mammography facility based outside of Illinois
that operates in Illinois and that has not been certified by the Agency is
exempt from the requirements of Sections 370.50 and 370.60 of this Part,
provided that:
1) The mobile mammography facility is certified to perform
mammography by FDA or other FDA-approved certifying agency at all times while
conducting operations in Illinois; and
2) The mobile mammography facility meets the requirements of
Section 370.145 of this Part.
AGENCY NOTE: Mobile mammography facilities exempt under this
subsection (b) shall meet the standards of this Part except those Sections
specifically exempted.
(Source: Amended at 29 Ill.
Reg. 20963, effective December 16, 2005)
 | TITLE 32: ENERGY
CHAPTER II: ILLINOIS EMERGENCY MANAGEMENT AGENCY AND OFFICE OF HOMELAND SECURITY SUBCHAPTER b: RADIATION PROTECTION
PART 370
QUALITY STANDARDS AND CERTIFICATION REQUIREMENTS
FOR FACILITIES PERFORMING MAMMOGRAPHY
SECTION 370.50 REQUIREMENTS FOR CERTIFICATION
Section 370.50 Requirements
for Certification
a) Except as otherwise provided in subsection (b)(1)(C) and
Section 370.40, a certificate issued by the Agency is required for lawful
operation of all mammography facilities subject to the provisions of this Part.
Facilities performing mammography shall meet the requirements of Sections
370.70, 370.80, 370.90, 370.100, 370.110, 370.120 and 370.130 and be accredited
by an FDA-approved accreditation body. Each mammography unit shall be
accredited by or have an application pending for accreditation with an FDA-approved
accrediting body.
AGENCY NOTE: Currently, the only FDA-approved accrediting
body in Illinois is the American College of Radiology.
AGENCY NOTE: Except for provisional certificates and interim
notices, the term of certificates issued under this Section shall be for 3
years.
b) Application.
1) Certificates.
A) In order to qualify for a certificate, a facility shall apply
to an accreditation body.
B) Following the Agency's receipt of the accreditation body's
decision to accredit a facility, the Agency may issue a certificate to the
facility, or renew an existing certificate, if the Agency determines that the
facility has satisfied the requirements for certification or recertification.
C) An interim notice authorizes the facility to perform
mammography until the facility receives its certificate but in no case for more
than 45 days. No more than one interim notice may be issued to a facility per
application for certification. The Agency may issue an interim notice of
mammography certification by facsimile to a facility if a delay is anticipated
in providing a certificate to the facility under one or more of the following
circumstances:
i) The Agency has been notified by an accreditation body that
the facility meets the requirements for a provisional or provisional
reinstatement certificate and delivery of the certificate may take more than 24
hours;
ii) The Agency has been notified by an accreditation body that
the facility has completed accreditation or reaccreditation and delivery of the
certificate to the facility may take more than 24 hours; or
iii) The Agency has been notified by an accreditation body that
the facility has timely submitted an application for accreditation or
reaccreditation but the completion of the accreditation process may extend
beyond the expiration date of a facility's existing certificate through no
fault of the facility.
2) Provisional certificates. A new facility is eligible to apply
for a provisional certificate. The provisional certificate will enable the
facility to perform mammography and to obtain the clinical images needed to
complete the accreditation process.
A) To receive a provisional certificate, a facility shall apply
and submit the required information to an FDA-approved accreditation body.
B) Following the Agency's receipt of the accreditation body's
decision that a facility has submitted the required information, the Agency may
issue a provisional certificate to a facility upon determination that the
facility has satisfied the requirements for provisional certification. A
provisional certificate shall be effective for up to 6 months from the date of
issuance. A provisional certificate cannot be renewed, but a facility may
apply for a 90 day extension of the provisional certificate.
C) In the event the facility is denied accreditation by the
accrediting body with time remaining on the provisional certificate, the
provisional certificate expires immediately with the denial and the facility
must stop performing mammography.
3) Extension of provisional certificate.
A) To apply for a 90 day extension to a provisional certificate, a
facility shall submit to its accreditation body a statement of what the
facility is doing to obtain certification and evidence that there would be a
significant adverse impact on access to mammography in the geographic area
served if such facility did not obtain an extension.
B) Following the Agency's receipt of the accreditation body's
decision that a facility has submitted the required information, the Agency may
issue a 90 day extension of the provisional certificate to the facility upon
determination that the facility has satisfied the requirements for the 90 day
extension.
C) There can be no renewal of a provisional certificate beyond the
90-day extension.
c) Reinstatement policy. A previously certified facility that
has allowed its certificate to expire, that has been refused a renewal of its
certificate by FDA or the Agency, or that has had its certificate suspended or
revoked by FDA or the Agency, may apply for reinstatement. If reinstated, the
facility will be eligible for a provisional certificate.
1) Unless prohibited from reinstatement under subsection (c)(4),
a facility applying for reinstatement shall:
A) Contact an FDA-approved accreditation body to determine the
requirements for reapplication for accreditation;
B) Fully document its history as a previously provisionally
certified or certified mammography facility, including the following
information:
i) Name and address of the facility under which it was
previously provisionally certified or certified;
ii) Name of previous owner/lessor;
iii) Facility identification number assigned to the facility under
its previous certification; and
iv) Expiration date of the most recent provisional certificate or
certificate; and
C) Justify application for reinstatement of accreditation by
submitting to the accreditation body a corrective action plan that details how
the facility has corrected deficiencies that contributed to the lapse, denial
of renewal or revocation of its certificate.
2) The Agency may issue a provisional certificate to a previously
certified facility:
A) Following the Agency's receipt of the accreditation body's
decision that a facility has adequately corrected, or is in the process of
correcting, pertinent deficiencies at the facility; and
B) The Agency determines that the facility has taken sufficient
corrective action since the lapse, denial of renewal or revocation of its
previous certificate.
3) After receiving the provisional certificate, the facility may
lawfully resume performing mammography services while completing the
requirements for certification.
4) If a facility's certificate was revoked on the basis of an act
described in Section 370.160, no person who owned or operated that facility at
the time the act occurred may own or operate a mammography facility within 2
years after the date of revocation.
d) Appeals of adverse accreditation or reaccreditation
decisions. The appeals procedures described in this subsection (d) are
available only for adverse accreditation or reaccreditation decisions that
preclude certification or recertification by the Agency.
1) Upon learning that a facility has failed to become accredited
or reaccredited, the Agency will notify the facility that the Agency is unable
to certify that facility without proof of accreditation.
2) A facility that has been denied accreditation or
reaccreditation is entitled to an appeals process from the accreditation body.
A facility shall avail itself of the accreditation body's appeal process before
appealing that decision to the FDA.
3) In the event that a facility, after availing itself of the
accreditation body's appeal process, receives an adverse accreditation or
reaccreditation decision, the facility may appeal that decision to the FDA. In
order to appeal, the facility shall send a request for reconsideration to the
FDA
(Source: Amended at 36 Ill.
Reg. 17392, effective November 30, 2012)
 | TITLE 32: ENERGY
CHAPTER II: ILLINOIS EMERGENCY MANAGEMENT AGENCY AND OFFICE OF HOMELAND SECURITY SUBCHAPTER b: RADIATION PROTECTION
PART 370
QUALITY STANDARDS AND CERTIFICATION REQUIREMENTS
FOR FACILITIES PERFORMING MAMMOGRAPHY
SECTION 370.60 FEES
Section 370.60 Fees
a) Except as provided in subsection (b), the Agency shall assess
each certified mammography installation an annual certification fee of $1,300
in each State fiscal year (July 1-June 30). The Agency shall bill the
mammography installation for the annual fee after July 1. The annual fee shall
be due and payable within 60 days after the date of billing. Failure to pay
the required fee may result in revocation of the certificate.
AGENCY NOTE:
The annual fee described in subsection (a) applies to both fully and
provisionally certified mammography installations.
b) A new mammography installation issued an initial provisional
certificate after December 31 of any State fiscal year shall not be required to
pay a certification fee for that State fiscal year.
(Source: Amended at 36 Ill.
Reg. 17392, effective November 30, 2012)
 | TITLE 32: ENERGY
CHAPTER II: ILLINOIS EMERGENCY MANAGEMENT AGENCY AND OFFICE OF HOMELAND SECURITY SUBCHAPTER b: RADIATION PROTECTION
PART 370
QUALITY STANDARDS AND CERTIFICATION REQUIREMENTS
FOR FACILITIES PERFORMING MAMMOGRAPHY
SECTION 370.70 PERSONNEL REQUIREMENTS
Section 370.70 Personnel
Requirements
Personnel. The following
requirements apply to all personnel involved in any aspect of mammography,
including the production, processing, and interpretation of mammograms and
related quality assurance activities:
a) Interpreting physicians. All physicians interpreting
mammograms shall meet the following qualifications:
1) Initial qualifications. Unless the exemption in subsection
(a)(3) of this Section applies, before beginning to interpret mammograms
independently, the interpreting physician shall:
A) Be a physician licensed under the Medical Practice Act of 1987
to practice medicine in all its branches [225 ILCS 60];
B) Be certified in diagnostic radiology by either the American
Board of Radiology, the American Osteopathic Board of Radiology, or Royal
College of Physicians and Surgeons of Canada or have had at least 3 months of
documented formal training in the interpretation of mammograms and in topics
related to mammography. The training shall include instruction in radiation
physics, including radiation physics specific to mammography, radiation effects
and radiation protection. The mammographic interpretation component shall be
under the direct supervision of a physician who meets the requirements of
subsection (a) of this Section;
C) Have a minimum of 60 hours of documented medical education in
mammography, which shall include instruction in the interpretation of
mammograms and education in basic breast anatomy, pathology, physiology,
technical aspects of mammography and quality assurance and quality control in
mammography. All 60 of these hours shall be Category I and at least 15 of the
Category I hours shall have been acquired within the 3 years immediately prior
to the date that the physician qualifies as an interpreting physician. Hours
spent in residency specifically devoted to mammography will be considered as
equivalent to Category I continuing medical education credits and will be
accepted if documented in writing by the appropriate representative of the
training institution; and
D) Unless the exemption in subsection (a)(3) of this Section
applies, have interpreted or multi-read at least 240 mammographic examinations
within the 6 month period immediately prior to the date that the physician
qualifies as an interpreting physician. This interpretation or multi-reading
shall be under the direct supervision of an interpreting physician.
2) Continuing experience and education. All interpreting
physicians shall maintain their qualifications by meeting the following
requirements:
A) Following the second anniversary date of the end of the
calendar quarter in which the requirements of subsection (a)(1) of this
Section were completed, the interpreting physician shall have interpreted or
multi-read at least 960 mammographic examinations during the 24 months
immediately preceding the date of the facility's annual MQSA inspection, or the
last day of the calendar quarter preceding the inspection or any date in
between the two. The facility will choose one of these dates to determine the 24
month period.
B) Following the third anniversary date of the end of the calendar
quarter in which the requirements of subsection (a)(1) of this Section were
completed, the interpreting physician shall have taught or completed at least
15 Category I continuing medical education units in mammography during the 36
months immediately preceding the date of the facility's annual MQSA inspection,
or the last day of the calendar quarter preceding the inspection or any date in
between the two. The facility will choose one of these dates to determine the
36 month period. This training shall include at least 6 Category I continuing
medical education credits in each mammographic modality used by the
interpreting physician in his or her practice.
C) Before an interpreting physician may begin independently
interpreting mammograms produced by a new mammographic modality, that is, a
mammographic modality in which the physician has not previously been trained,
the interpreting physician shall have at least 8 hours of training in the new mammographic
modality.
D) Units earned through teaching a specific course can be counted
only once towards the 15 units required by subsection (a)(2) of this Section,
even if the course is taught multiple times during the previous 36 months.
3) Exemptions.
A) Those physicians who qualified as interpreting physicians under
FDA's interim regulations prior to April 28, 1999, are considered to have met
the initial requirements of subsection (a)(1) of this Section. These
physicians may continue to interpret mammograms provided they continue to meet
the requirements of subsection (a)(1) of this Section and the continuing
experience and education requirements of subsection (a)(2) of this Section.
B) Physicians who have interpreted or multi-read at least 240
mammographic examinations under the direct supervision of an interpreting
physician in any 6 month period during the last 2 years of a diagnostic
radiology residency and who become appropriately board certified at the first
allowable time, as defined by an eligible certifying body, are otherwise exempt
from subsection (a)(1)(D) of this Section.
4) Reestablishing qualifications. Interpreting physicians who
fail to maintain the required continuing experience or continuing education
requirements of subsection (a)(2) of this Section, shall reestablish their
qualifications before resuming the independent interpretation of mammograms as
follows:
A) Interpret or multi-read at least 240 mammographic examinations
under the direct supervision of an interpreting physician, or interpret or
multi-read a sufficient number of mammographic examinations, under the direct
supervision of an interpreting physician, to bring the physician's total up to
960 examinations for the prior 24 months, whichever is less.
B) Interpreting physicians who fail to meet the continuing
education requirements of subsection (a)(2)(B) of this Section shall obtain a
sufficient number of additional Category I continuing medical education credits
in mammography to bring their total up to the required 15 credits in the
previous 36 months before resuming independent interpretation.
C) The interpretations required under this Section shall be done
within the 6 months immediately prior to resuming independent interpretation.
b) Radiologic technologists who perform mammographic examinations
shall be accredited by the Agency and shall meet the following:
1) Training requirements.
A) Have, prior to April 28, 1999, qualified as a radiologic
technologist under FDA's interim regulations; or
B) Complete at least 40 contact hours of documented training
specific to mammography under the supervision of a qualified instructor. The
hours of documented training shall include, but not necessarily be limited to:
i) Training in breast anatomy and physiology, positioning and
compression, quality assurance/quality control techniques and imaging of
patients with breast implants;
ii) The performance of a minimum of 25 examinations under the
direct supervision of an individual qualified under subsection (b) of this
Section; and
iii) At least 8 hours of training in each mammography modality to
be used by the technologist in performing mammography exams.
2) Continuing education requirements.
A) Following the third anniversary date of the end of the calendar
quarter in which the requirements of subsection (b)(1) of this Section were
completed, the radiologic technologist who performs mammography shall have
taught or completed at least 15 continuing education units in mammography
during the 36 months immediately preceding the date of the facility's annual
MQSA inspection, or the last day of the calendar quarter preceding the
inspection or any date in between the two. The facility will choose one of
these dates to determine the 36 month period.
B) Units earned through teaching a specific course can be counted
only once towards the 15 hours of continuing education requirements required in
subsection (b)(2) of this Section, even if the course is taught multiple times
during the previous 36 months.
C) At least 6 of the continuing education units required in
subsection (b)(2) of this Section shall be related to each mammographic
modality used by the technologist.
D) Requalification. Radiologic technologists who fail to meet the
continuing education requirements of subsection (b)(2)(A) of this Section shall
obtain a sufficient number of continuing education units in mammography to
bring their total up to at least 15 in the previous 3 years, at least 6 of
which shall be related to each modality used by the technologist in
mammography. The technologist shall not resume performing unsupervised
mammography examinations until the continuing education requirements are
completed.
E) Before a radiologic technologist may begin independently
performing mammography examinations using a mammographic modality other than
one of those for which the technologist received training under subsection
(b)(1)(B)(iii) of this Section, the technologist shall have at least 8 hours of
continuing education units in the new modality.
3) Continuing experience requirements.
A) Following the second anniversary date of the end of the
calendar quarter in which the requirements of subsection (b)(1) of this Section
were completed or of April 28, 1999, whichever is later, the radiologic
technologist shall have performed a minimum of 200 mammography examinations
during the 24 months immediately preceding the date of the facility's annual
MQSA inspection, or the last day of the calendar quarter preceding the
inspection or any date in between the two. The facility will choose one of
these dates to determine the 24 month period.
B) Requalification. Radiologic technologists who fail to meet the
continuing experience requirements of subsection (b)(3)(A) of this Section
shall perform a minimum of 25 mammography examinations under the direct
supervision of a qualified radiologic technologist before resuming the
performance of unsupervised mammography.
C) Programs, courses or other activities intended to meet the
requirement for initial, or requalification, mammography training or continuing
education in mammography shall be approved by the Agency.
D) Completion of initial, or requalification, mammography training
and continuing education in mammography shall be verified to the Agency.
c) Medical physicists. All medical physicists conducting surveys
of mammography facilities and providing oversight of the facility quality
assurance program shall be approved by the Agency as diagnostic imaging
specialists pursuant to 32 Ill. Adm. Code 410, and meet the following:
1) Initial qualifications.
A) Be certified in diagnostic radiological physics or radiological
physics by either the American Board of Radiology (ABR) or the American Board
of Medical Physics (ABMP);
B) Have a masters degree or higher in a physical science from an
accredited institution, with no less than 20 semester hours or equivalent
(e.g., 30 quarter hours) of college undergraduate or graduate level physics;
C) Have 20 contact hours of documented specialized training in
conducting surveys of mammography facilities; and
D) Have the experience of conducting surveys of at least 1
mammography facility and a total of at least 10 mammography units. No more
than one survey of a specific unit within a period of 60 days can be counted
towards the total mammography unit survey requirement. After April 28, 1999,
experience conducting surveys shall be acquired under the direct supervision of
a medical physicist who meets all the requirements of subsections (c)(1),
(c)(2) and (c)(3) of this Section.
2) Alternative initial qualifications.
A) Have qualified as a medical physicist under FDA's interim
regulations and retained that qualification by maintenance of the active status
of any licensure, approval or certification required;
B) Have, prior to April 28, 1999, obtained a bachelor's degree or
higher in a physical science from an accredited institution with no less than
10 semester hours or equivalent of college undergraduate or graduate level
physics;
C) Have 40 contact hours of documented specialized training in
conducting surveys of mammography facilities; and
D) Have the experience of conducting surveys of at least 1
mammography facility and a total of at least 20 mammography units. No more
than one survey of a specific unit within a period of 60 days can be counted
towards the total mammography unit survey requirement. The training and
experience requirements shall be met after fulfilling the degree requirement.
3) Continuing education and experience. All medical physicists
shall maintain their qualifications by meeting the following requirements:
A) Continuing education. Beginning 3 years after the end of the
calendar quarter in which the requirements of subsection (c)(1) or (c)(2) of
this Section were completed, the medical physicist shall have taught, or
completed, at least 15 continuing education units in mammography during the 36
months immediately preceding the date of the facility's annual inspection, or
the last day of the calendar quarter preceding the inspection or any date in between
the two. The facility shall choose one of these dates to determine the 36
month period. This continuing education shall include hours of training
appropriate to each mammographic modality evaluated by the medical physicist
during his or her surveys or oversight of quality assurance programs. Units
earned through teaching a specific course can be counted only once towards the
required 15 continuing education units in a 36 month period, even if the course
is taught multiple times during the 36 months.
B) Continuing experience. Beginning 2 years after the end of the
calendar quarter in which the requirements of subsection (c)(1) or (c)(2) of
this Section were completed or of April 28, 1999, whichever is later, the
medical physicist shall have surveyed at least 2 mammography facilities and a
total of at least 6 mammography units during the 24 months immediately
preceding the date of the facility's annual MQSA inspection, or the last day of
the calendar quarter preceding the inspection or any date in between the two.
The facility shall choose one of these dates to determine the 24 month period.
No more than one survey of a specific facility within a 10 month period or a
specific unit within a period of 60 days can be counted towards the total mammography
unit survey requirement.
C) Before a medical physicist may begin independently performing
mammographic surveys of a new mammographic modality, that is, a mammographic
modality other than one for which the physicist received training to qualify
under subsection (c)(1) or (c)(2) of this Section, the physicist shall receive
at least 8 hours of training in surveying units of the new mammographic
modality.
4) Reestablishing qualifications. Medical physicists who fail to
maintain the required continuing education and experience qualifications of
subsection (c)(3) of this Section may not perform the MQSA surveys without the
supervision of a qualified medical physicist. Before independently surveying
another facility, medical physicists shall reestablish their qualifications, as
follows:
A) Medical physicists who fail to meet the continuing educational
requirements of subsection (c)(3)(A) of this Section shall obtain a sufficient
number of continuing education units to bring their total units up to the
required 15 units in the previous 3 years.
B) Medical physicists who fail to meet the continuing experience
requirement of subsection (c)(3)(B) of this Section shall complete a sufficient
number of surveys under the direct supervision of a medical physicist who meets
the qualifications of subsection (c)(1) or (c)(2) of this Section, to bring
their total surveys up to the required 2 facilities and 6 units in the previous
24 months. No more than one survey of a specific unit within a period of 60
days can be counted towards the total mammography unit survey requirement.
d) Retention of personnel records. Facilities shall maintain
records to document the qualifications of all personnel who worked at the
facility as interpreting physicians, radiologic technologists or medical
physicists. These records shall be available for review by the Agency.
Records of personnel no longer employed by the facility shall not be discarded
until the next annual inspection has been completed and the Agency has
determined that the facility is in compliance with the personnel requirements
of this Section.
(Source: Amended at 29 Ill.
Reg. 20963, effective December 16, 2005)
 | TITLE 32: ENERGY
CHAPTER II: ILLINOIS EMERGENCY MANAGEMENT AGENCY AND OFFICE OF HOMELAND SECURITY SUBCHAPTER b: RADIATION PROTECTION
PART 370
QUALITY STANDARDS AND CERTIFICATION REQUIREMENTS
FOR FACILITIES PERFORMING MAMMOGRAPHY
SECTION 370.80 EQUIPMENT REQUIREMENTS
Section 370.80 Equipment
Requirements
The equipment requirements of
this Section are intended to ensure that mammography equipment is capable of
producing quality mammograms over the full range of clinical conditions.
a) Prohibited equipment. Radiographic equipment designed for
general purpose shall not be used for mammography. Mammography shall only be
performed with a special purpose radiation machine specifically designed for
and used solely for mammography procedures.
b) General. All radiographic equipment used for mammography
shall be certified under the "Performance Standards for Diagnostic X-Ray
Systems and their Major Components", published at 21 CFR 1020.30,
effective as of April 1, 2012. Each radiographic unit used for mammography
shall be accredited by an approved accrediting body or have an application for
accreditation pending with an approved accrediting body.
c) Motion of tube-image receptor assembly.
1) The assembly shall be capable of being fixed in any position
where it is designed to operate. Once fixed in any such position, it shall not
undergo unintended motion.
2) The mechanism ensuring compliance with subsection (c)(1) shall
not fail in the event of power interruption.
d) Image receptor sizes.
1) Systems using screen-film image receptors shall provide, at a
minimum, for operation with image receptors of 18 x 24 centimeters (cm) and 24
x 30 cm.
2) Systems using screen-film image receptors shall be equipped
with moving grids matched to all image receptor sizes provided.
3) Systems used for magnification procedures shall be capable of
operation with the grid removed from between the source and image receptor.
e) Beam limitation and light fields.
1) All systems shall have beam-limiting devices.
2) For any mammography system with a light beam that passes
through the x-ray beam-limiting device, the light shall provide an average
illumination of not less than 160 lux (15 foot candles) at 100 cm or the
maximum source-image receptor distance (SID), whichever is less.
f) Magnification.
1) Systems used to perform noninterventional problem solving
procedures shall have radiographic magnification capability available for use
by the operator.
2) Systems used for magnification procedures shall provide, at a
minimum, at least one magnification value within the range of 1.4 to 2.0.
g) Focal spot selection.
1) When more than one focal spot is provided, the system shall
indicate, prior to exposure, which focal spot is selected.
2) When more than one target material is provided, the system
shall indicate, prior to exposure, the preselected target material.
3) When the target material and/or focal spot is selected by a
system algorithm that is based on the exposure or on a test exposure, the
system shall display, after the exposure, the target material and/or focal spot
actually used during the exposure.
h) Compression. All mammography systems shall incorporate a
compression device.
1) Application of compression. Each system shall provide:
A) An initial power-driven compression activated by hands-free
controls operable from both sides of the patient; and
B) Fine adjustment compression controls operable from both sides
of the patient.
2) Compression paddle.
A) Systems shall be equipped with different sized compression
paddles that match the sizes of all full-field image receptors provided for the
system. Compression paddles for special purposes, including those smaller than
the full size of the image receptor (for "spot compression") may be
provided. The compression paddles for special purposes are not subject to the
requirements of subsections (h)(2)(D) and (h)(2)(E).
B) Except as provided in subsection (h)(2)(C), the compression
paddle shall be flat and parallel to the breast support table and shall not
deflect from parallel by more than 1.0 cm at any point on the surface of the
compression paddle when compression is applied.
C) Equipment intended by the manufacturer's design to not be flat
and parallel to the breast support table during compression shall meet the
manufacturer's design specifications and maintenance requirements.
D) The chest wall edge of the compression paddle shall be straight
and parallel to the edge of the image receptor.
E) The chest wall edge may be bent upward to allow for patient
comfort but shall not appear on the image.
i) Technique factor selection and display.
1) Manual selection of milliampere seconds (mAs) or at least one
of its component parts (milliampere (mA) and/or time) shall be available.
2) The technique factors (peak tube potential in kilovolt (kV)
and either tube current in mA and exposure time in seconds or the product of
tube current and exposure time in mAs) to be used during an exposure shall be
indicated before the exposure begins, except when automatic exposure controls
(AEC) are used, in which case the technique factors that are set prior to the
exposure shall be indicated.
3) Following AEC mode use, the system shall indicate the actual
kilovoltage peak (kVp) and mAs used during the exposure. The mAs may be
displayed as mA and time.
j) Automatic exposure control.
1) Each screen-film system shall provide an AEC mode that is
operable in all combinations of equipment configuration provided, e.g., grid,
nongrid, magnification, nonmagnification and various target-filter
combinations.
2) The positioning or selection of the detector shall permit
flexibility in the placement of the detector under the target tissue.
A) The size and available positions of the detector shall be clearly
indicated at the x-ray input surface of the breast compression paddle.
B) The selected position of the detector shall be clearly
indicated.
3) The system shall provide means for the operator to vary the
selected optical density from the normal (zero) setting.
k) X-ray film. The facility shall use x-ray film for mammography
that has been designated by the film manufacturer as appropriate for mammography.
l) Intensifying screens. The facility shall use intensifying
screens for mammography that have been designated by the screen manufacturer as
appropriate for mammography and shall use film that is matched to the screen's
spectral output as specified by the manufacturer.
m) Film processing solutions. For processing mammography films,
the facility shall use chemical solutions that are capable of developing the
films used by the facility in a manner equivalent to the minimum requirements
specified by the film manufacturer.
n) Lighting. The facility shall make special lights for film
illumination, i.e., hot-lights, capable of producing light levels greater than
that provided by the view box, available to the interpreting physicians.
o) Film masking devices. Facilities shall ensure that film
masking devices that can limit the illuminated area to a region equal to or
smaller than the exposed portion of the film are available to all interpreting
physicians interpreting for the facility.
(Source: Amended at 36 Ill.
Reg. 17392, effective November 30, 2012)
 | TITLE 32: ENERGY
CHAPTER II: ILLINOIS EMERGENCY MANAGEMENT AGENCY AND OFFICE OF HOMELAND SECURITY SUBCHAPTER b: RADIATION PROTECTION
PART 370
QUALITY STANDARDS AND CERTIFICATION REQUIREMENTS
FOR FACILITIES PERFORMING MAMMOGRAPHY
SECTION 370.90 MEDICAL RECORDS AND MAMMOGRAPHY REPORTS
Section 370.90 Medical
Records and Mammography Reports
a) Contents and terminology. Each facility shall prepare a
written report of the results of each mammography examination performed under
its certificate. The mammography report shall include the following
information:
1) The name of the patient and an additional patient identifier;
2) Date of examination;
3) The name of the interpreting physician who interpreted the
mammogram;
4) Overall final assessment of findings, classified in one of the
following categories:
A) "Negative." Nothing to comment upon (if the
interpreting physician is aware of clinical findings or symptoms, despite the
negative assessment, these shall be explained);
B) "Benign." Also a negative assessment;
C) "Probably Benign." Finding(s) has a high probability
of being benign;
D) "Suspicious." Finding(s) without all the
characteristic morphology of breast cancer but indicating a definite
probability of being malignant;
E) "Highly suggestive of malignancy." Finding(s) has a
high probability of being malignant;
5) In cases where no final assessment category can be assigned
due to incomplete work-up, "Incomplete: Need additional imaging
evaluation" shall be assigned as an assessment and reasons why no
assessment can be made shall be stated by the interpreting physician; and
6) Recommendations made to the health care provider about what
additional actions, if any, should be taken. All clinical questions raised by
the referring health care provider shall be addressed in the report to the
extent possible, even if the assessment is negative or benign.
b) Communication of mammography results to the patient. Each
facility shall send each patient a summary of the mammography report written in
lay terms within 30 days after the mammographic examination. If assessments
are "Suspicious" or "Highly suggestive of malignancy", the
facility shall make reasonable attempts to ensure that the results are
communicated to the patient as soon as possible.
1) Patients who do not name a health care provider to receive the
mammography report shall be sent the report described in subsection (a) of this
Section within 30 days, in addition to the written notification of results in
lay terms.
2) Each facility that accepts patients who do not have a health
care provider shall maintain a system for referring such patients to a health
care provider when clinically indicated.
c) Communication of mammography results to health care
providers. When the patient has a referring health care provider or the
patient has named a health care provider, the facility shall:
1) Provide a written report of the mammography examination,
including the items listed in subsection (a) of this Section, to that health
care provider as soon as possible, but no later than 30 days after the date of
the mammography examination; and
2) If the assessment is "Suspicious" or "Highly
suggestive of malignancy," make reasonable attempts to communicate with
the health care provider as soon as possible, or if the health care provider is
unavailable, to a responsible designee of the health care provider.
d) Recordkeeping. Each facility that performs mammograms:
1) Shall (except as provided in subsection (c)(2) of this
Section) maintain mammography films and reports in a permanent medical record
of the patient for a period of not less than 5 years, or not less than 10 years
if no additional mammograms of the patient are performed at the facility;
2) Shall upon request by, or on behalf of, the patient
permanently or temporarily transfer the original mammograms and copies of the
patient's reports to a medical institution, or to a physician or health care
provider of the patient, or to the patient directly. Any fee charged to the
patient for providing the services in this subsection (d) shall not exceed the
documented costs associated with this service.
e) Mammographic image identification. Each mammographic image shall
have the following information indicated on it in a permanent, legible, and
unambiguous manner and placed so as not to obscure anatomic structures:
1) Name of patient and an additional patient identifier.
2) Date of examination.
3) View and laterality. This information shall be placed on the
image in a position near the axilla. Standardized codes specified by the
accreditation body shall be used to identify view and laterality.
4) Facility name and location. At a minimum, the location shall include
the city, state and zip code of the facility.
5) Technologist identification.
6) Cassette/screen identification.
7) Mammography unit identification, if there is more than one
unit in the facility.
(Source: Amended at 24 Ill. Reg. 18258, effective December 1, 2000)
 | TITLE 32: ENERGY
CHAPTER II: ILLINOIS EMERGENCY MANAGEMENT AGENCY AND OFFICE OF HOMELAND SECURITY SUBCHAPTER b: RADIATION PROTECTION
PART 370
QUALITY STANDARDS AND CERTIFICATION REQUIREMENTS
FOR FACILITIES PERFORMING MAMMOGRAPHY
SECTION 370.100 QUALITY ASSURANCE REQUIREMENTS
Section 370.100 Quality
Assurance Requirements
Each facility shall establish
and maintain a quality assurance program to ensure the safety, reliability,
clarity and accuracy of mammography services performed at the facility.
a) Responsible individuals. Responsibility for the quality
assurance program and for each of its elements shall be assigned to individuals
who are qualified for their assignments and who shall be allowed adequate time
to perform these duties.
1) Lead interpreting physician. The facility shall identify a
lead interpreting physician who shall have the general responsibility of
ensuring that the quality assurance program meets all requirements of this
Section and Sections 370.110, 370.120(b) and (c) and 370.130 of this Part. No
other individual shall be assigned or shall retain responsibility for quality
assurance tasks unless the lead interpreting physician has determined that the
individual's qualifications for, and performance of, the assignment are
adequate.
2) Interpreting physicians. All interpreting physicians
interpreting mammograms for the facility shall:
A) Follow the facility procedures for corrective action when the
images they are asked to interpret are of poor quality; and
B) Participate in the facility's medical outcomes audit program.
3) Medical physicist. Each facility shall have the services of a
medical physicist available to survey mammography equipment and oversee the
equipment-related quality assurance practices of the facility. At a minimum,
the medical physicist shall be responsible for performing the surveys and
mammography equipment evaluations and providing the facility with the reports
described in Section 370.110(i) of this Part.
4) Quality control technologist. Responsibility for all
individual tasks within the quality assurance program not assigned to the lead
interpreting physician or the medical physicist shall be assigned to a quality
control technologist. The tasks are to be performed by the quality control
technologist or by other personnel qualified to perform the tasks. When other personnel
are utilized for these tasks, the quality control technologist shall ensure
that the tasks are completed in such a way as to meet the requirements of
Section 370.110 of this Part.
b) Personnel quality assurance records. The lead interpreting physician,
quality control technologist and medical physicist shall ensure that records
concerning employee qualifications to meet assigned quality assurance tasks,
mammography technique and procedures, quality control (including monitoring
data, problems detected by analysis of that data, corrective actions and the
effectiveness of the corrective actions), safety, and protection are properly
maintained and updated. These quality control records shall be kept for each
test specified in Section 370.110 of this Part until the next annual inspection
has been completed and the Agency has determined that the facility is in
compliance with the quality assurance requirements or until the test has been
performed two additional times at the required frequency, whichever is longer.
(Source: Amended at 29 Ill.
Reg. 20963, effective December 16, 2005)
 | TITLE 32: ENERGY
CHAPTER II: ILLINOIS EMERGENCY MANAGEMENT AGENCY AND OFFICE OF HOMELAND SECURITY SUBCHAPTER b: RADIATION PROTECTION
PART 370
QUALITY STANDARDS AND CERTIFICATION REQUIREMENTS
FOR FACILITIES PERFORMING MAMMOGRAPHY
SECTION 370.110 EQUIPMENT QUALITY ASSURANCE TESTS
Section 370.110 Equipment
Quality Assurance Tests
a) Daily quality control tests. Film processors used to develop
mammograms shall be adjusted and maintained to meet the technical development
specifications for the mammography film in use. A processor performance test
shall be performed on each day that examinations are performed before any
clinical films are processed that day. The test shall include an assessment of
base plus fog density, mid-density and density difference, using the
mammography film used clinically at the facility.
1) The base plus fog density shall be within plus 0.03 of the
established operating level.
2) The mid-density shall be within plus or minus 0.15 of the
established operating level.
3) The density difference shall be within plus or minus 0.15 of
the established operating level.
b) Weekly quality control tests. Facilities with screen-film
systems shall perform a phantom image quality evaluation test at least weekly,
using the Mammography Image Evaluation Protocol found in Appendix B of this
Part.
1) The optical density of the film at the center of an image of
the phantom shall be at least 1.20 when exposed under a typical clinical
condition.
2) The optical density of the film at the center of the phantom
image shall not change by more than plus or minus 0.20 from the established
operating level.
3) The mammography system shall be capable of producing images of
the mammography phantom in which the following objects are visualized:
A) The three largest masses with thicknesses of 2.0, 1.0 and 0.75
millimeter.
B) The three largest speck groups with diameters of 0.54, 0.40 and
0.32 millimeter.
C) The four largest fibers with thicknesses of 1.56, 1.12, 0.89
and 0.75 millimeter.
4) The density difference between the background of the phantom
and an added test object, used to assess image contrast, shall be measured and
shall not vary by more than plus or minus 0.05 from the established operating
level.
c) Quarterly quality control tests. Facilities with screen-film
systems shall perform the following quality control tests at least quarterly:
1) Fixer retention in film. The residual fixer shall be no more
than 5 micrograms per square cm.
2) Repeat analysis. If the total repeat or reject rate changes
from the previously determined rate by more than 2.0 percent of the total films
included in the analysis, the reasons for the change shall be determined. Any
corrective actions shall be recorded and the results of these corrective
actions shall be assessed.
d) Semiannual quality control tests. Facilities with screen-film
systems shall perform the following quality control tests at least
semiannually:
1) Darkroom fog. The optical density attributable to darkroom
fog shall not exceed 0.05 when a mammography film of the type used in the
facility, which has a mid-density of no less than 1.20, is exposed to typical
darkroom conditions for 2 minutes while such film is placed on the counter top
emulsion side up. If the darkroom has a safelight used for mammography film, it
shall be on during this test.
2) Screen-film contact. Testing for screen-film contact shall be
conducted using 40 mesh copper screen. All cassettes used in the facility for
mammography shall be tested.
3) Compression device performance. The compression device
performance shall:
A) Be capable of maintaining a compression force of at least 111
newtons (25 pounds) for at least 15 seconds;
B) Not be capable of exceeding a compression force of more than
209 newtons (47 pounds) when used in an automatic or power drive mode.
e) Annual quality control tests. Facilities with screen-film
systems shall perform the following quality control tests at least annually:
1) Automatic exposure control performance.
A) The AEC shall be capable of maintaining film optical density
within plus or minus 0.30 of the mean optical density when thickness of a
homogeneous material is varied over a range of 2 to 6 cm and the kVp is varied
appropriately for such thicknesses over the kVp range used clinically in the
facility. If this requirement cannot be met, a technique chart shall be
developed showing appropriate techniques (kVp and density control settings) for
different breast thicknesses and compositions that shall be used so that
optical densities within plus or minus 0.30 of the average under phototimed
conditions can be produced.
B) The AEC shall be capable of maintaining film optical density
within plus or minus 0.15 of the mean optical density when thickness of a
homogeneous material is varied over a range of 2 to 6 cm and the kVp is varied
appropriately for such thicknesses over the kVp range used clinically in the
facility.
C) The optical density of the film in the center of the phantom
image shall not be less than 1.20.
2) Kilovoltage peak accuracy and reproducibility. The kVp shall
be accurate within plus or minus 5 percent of the indicated or selected kVp at:
A) The lowest clinical kVp that can be measured by a kVp test
device;
B) The most commonly used clinical kVp;
C) The highest available clinical kVp; and
D) At the most commonly used clinical settings of kVp, the
coefficient of variation of reproducibility of the kVp shall be equal to or
less than 0.02.
3) Focal spot dimensions. Facilities shall evaluate focal spot
condition by determining the system resolution. For focal spot dimensions, the
measured values of the focal spot length (dimension parallel to the anode
cathode axis) and width (dimension perpendicular to the anode-cathode axis)
shall be within the tolerance limits specified in this subsection (e)(3).
|
Focal
Spot Tolerance Limit
|
|
|
|
Nominal Focal
|
Maximum Measured Dimensions
|
|
Spot Size
(mm)
|
Width (mm)
|
Length (mm)
|
|
|
|
|
|
0.10
|
0.15
|
0.15
|
|
0.15
|
0.23
|
0.23
|
|
0.20
|
0.30
|
0.30
|
|
0.30
|
0.45
|
0.65
|
|
0.40
|
0.60
|
0.85
|
|
0.60
|
0.90
|
1.30
|
4) System resolution. Facilities shall evaluate focal spot
condition by determining the system resolution as follows:
A) Each x-ray system used for mammography, in combination with the
mammography screen-film combination used in the facility, shall provide a
minimum resolution of 11 cycles/millimeter (mm) (line-pairs/mm) when a high
contrast resolution bar test pattern is oriented with the bars perpendicular to
the anode-cathode axis, and a minimum resolution of 13 line-pairs/mm when the
bars are parallel to that axis.
B) The bar pattern shall be placed 4.5 cm above the breast support
surface, centered with respect to the chest wall edge of the image receptor,
and with the edge of the pattern within 1 cm of the chest wall edge of the
image receptor.
C) When more than one target material is provided, the measurement
shall be made using the appropriate focal spot for each target material.
D) When more than one source-image receptor distance is provided,
the test shall be performed at SID most commonly used clinically.
E) Test kVp shall be set at the value used clinically by the
facility for a standard breast and shall be performed in the AEC mode, if
available. If necessary, a suitable absorber may be placed in the beam to
increase exposure times. The screen-film cassette combination used by the
facility shall be used to test for this requirement and shall be placed in the
normal location used for clinical procedures.
5) Beam quality and half-value layer (HVL). For mammography
systems operating at x-ray tube potentials of less than 50 kVp, the HVL in
millimeters of aluminum of the useful beam shall be equal to or greater than
the product of the measured tube potential in kilivolts multiplied by 0.01.
The half-value layer shall be measured with the compression device in the beam
and shall be measured at the same tube potential used in Appendix A of this
Part, Mammography Dose Measurement Protocol, and Appendix B of this Part,
Mammography Phantom Image Evaluation.
AGENCY NOTE: If the measured half-value layer is
significantly greater than the specified minimum, image contrast will be
reduced and overall image quality will be degraded. For screen-film
mammography systems, it is recommended that the HVL not exceed the minimum
acceptable HVL by more than 0.1 millimeter of aluminum, as specified in the
Mammography Quality Control Manual: Medical Physicist's Section, Revised
Edition, 1999.
6) Breast entrance air kerma and AEC reproducibility. The
coefficient of variation for both air kerma and mAs shall not exceed 0.05.
7) Dosimetry. The average glandular dose delivered during a
single craniocaudal view of a phantom simulating a standard breast shall not
exceed 3.0 milligray (mGy) (0.3 rad) per exposure. The dose shall be
determined with technique factors and conditions used clinically for a standard
breast (see Appendix A of this Part).
8) X-ray field/light field/image receptor/compression paddle
alignment.
A) All systems shall have beam-limiting devices that allow the
entire chest wall edge of the x-ray field to extend to the chest wall edge of
the image receptor and provide means to assure that the x-ray field does not
extend beyond any edge of the image receptor by more than 2 percent of the SID.
B) If a light field that passes through the x-ray beam limitation
device is provided, it shall be aligned with the x-ray field so that the total
of any misalignment of the edges of the light field and the x-ray field along
either the length or the width of the visually defined field at the plane of
the breast support surface shall not exceed 2 percent of the SID.
C) The chest wall edge of the compression paddle shall not extend
beyond the chest wall edge of the image receptor by more than one percent of
the SID when tested with the compression paddle placed above the breast support
surface at a distance equivalent to standard breast thickness. The shadow of
the vertical edge of the compression paddle shall not be visible on the image.
9) Uniformity of screen speed. Uniformity of screen speed of all
the cassettes in the facility shall be tested and the difference between the
maximum and minimum optical densities shall not exceed 0.30. Screen artifacts
shall also be evaluated during this test.
10) System artifacts. System artifacts shall be evaluated with a
high-grade, defect-free sheet of homogeneous material large enough to cover the
mammography cassette and shall be performed for all cassette sizes used in the
facility using a grid appropriate for the cassette size being tested. System
artifacts shall also be evaluated for all available focal spot sizes and target
filter combinations used clinically.
11) Radiation output.
A) The system shall be capable of producing a minimum output of
4.5 mGy air kerma per second (513 mR per second) when operating at 28 kVp in
the standard mammography (moly/moly) mode at any SID where the system is
designed to operate and when measured by a detector with its center located 4.5
cm above the breast support surface with the compression paddle in place
between the source and the detector. The system, under the same measuring
conditions, shall be capable of producing a minimum output of 7.0 mGy air kerma
per second (800 mR per second) when operating at 28 kVp in the standard
(moly/moly) mammography mode at any SID where the system is designed to
operate.
B) The system shall be capable of maintaining the required minimum
radiation output averaged over a 3.0 second period.
12) Decompression. If the system is equipped with a provision
for automatic decompression after completion of an exposure or interruption of
power to the system, the system shall be tested to confirm that it provides:
A) An override capability to allow maintenance of compression;
B) A continuous display of the override status; and
C) A manual emergency compression release that can be activated in
the event of power or automatic release failure.
f) Quality control tests-other modalities. For systems with
image receptor modalities other than screen-film, the quality assurance program
shall be substantially the same as the quality assurance program recommended by
the image receptor manufacturer, except that the maximum allowable dose shall
not exceed the maximum allowable dose for screen-film systems in subsection
(e)(7) of this Section.
g) Mobile units. The facility shall verify that mammography
units used to produce mammograms at more than one location meet the requirements
in subsections (a) through (f) of this Section. In addition, at each
examination location, before any examinations are conducted, mobile mammography
systems shall be tested using the mammography phantom image evaluation, or
shall meet the following requirements:
1) A medical physicist shall establish a protocol for measurement
of the radiation output of the mammography system, including the radiation
measuring device to be used, procedures for performing the measurement and the
anticipated result of the measurement.
2) Measurements shall be performed using the technique factors
that were used for the most recent phantom image evaluation. If a change is
made in the technique factors used for the measurements required in this
subsection (g)(2), the image quality shall be tested using the mammography
phantom image evaluation protocol found in Appendix B of this Part.
AGENCY NOTE:
If the phantom image evaluation is performed using a phototimer, the medical
physicist may specify appropriate technique factors that approximate those used
by the phototimer for the measurements required in this Section.
3) After each relocation of a mobile mammography system,
measurements of the radiation output of the machine shall be performed
according to the protocol established in this Section.
4) If the radiation output measurement exceeds plus or minus 15
percent of the value established by the medical physicist, the system shall not
be used to image human patients until the cause for the variation has been
investigated and corrected.
5) Records of radiation output measurements for mobile
mammography systems shall be maintained at the location of the mammography
system for a period of not less than one inspection cycle.
AGENCY NOTE:
The Agency recommends that mobile mammography systems be tested for image
quality after each relocation and prior to use on patients, with mammography
phantom image evaluation protocol in Appendix B of this Part.
h) Use of test results.
1) After completion of the tests specified in subsections (a) through
(g) of this Section, the facility shall compare the test results to the
corresponding specified action limits, or for nonscreen-film modalities, to the
manufacturer's recommended action limits, or for post-move, preexamination
testing of mobile units, to the limits established in the test method used by
the facility.
2) If the test results fall outside of the action limits, the
source of the problem shall be identified and corrective actions shall be
taken:
A) Before any further examinations are performed or any films are
processed using the component of the mammography system that failed the test,
if the failed test was that described in subsection (a), (b), (d)(1), (d)(2),
(d)(3), (e)(7), (f) or (g) of this Section;
B) Within 30 days after the test date for all other tests
described in this Section.
i) Surveys.
1) At least once a year, each facility shall undergo a survey by
a medical physicist or by an individual under the direct supervision of a
medical physicist. At a minimum, this survey shall include the performance of
tests to ensure that the facility meets the quality assurance requirements of
the annual tests described in subsections (e) and (f) of this Section and the
weekly phantom image quality test described in subsection (b) of this Section.
2) Calibration of air kerma measuring instruments. Instruments
used by medical physicists in their annual survey to measure the air kerma or
air kerma rate from a mammography unit shall be calibrated at least once every
2 years and each time the instrument is repaired. The instrument calibration
shall be traceable to a national standard and calibrated with an accuracy of
plus or minus 6 percent (95 percent confidence level) in the mammography energy
range.
3) The results of all tests conducted by the facility in
accordance with subsections (a) through (g) of this Section, as well as written
documentation of any corrective actions taken and their results, shall be
evaluated for adequacy by the medical physicist performing the survey.
4) The medical physicist shall prepare a survey report that
includes a summary of this review and recommendations for necessary
improvements.
5) The survey report shall be sent to the facility within 30 days
after the date of the survey.
6) The survey report shall be dated and signed by the medical
physicist performing or supervising the survey. If the survey was performed
entirely or in part by another individual under the direct supervision of the
medical physicist, that individual and the part of the survey that individual
performed shall also be identified in the survey report.
j) Mammography equipment evaluations. Additional evaluations of
mammography units or image processors shall be conducted whenever a new unit or
processor is installed, a unit or processor is dissembled and reassembled at
the same or a new location, or major components of a mammography unit or
processor equipment are changed or repaired. These evaluations shall be used
to determine whether the new or changed equipment meets the requirements of
applicable standards in this Section and Section 370.80 of this Part. All
problems shall be corrected before the new or changed equipment is put into
service for examinations or film processing. The mammography equipment
evaluation shall be performed by a medical physicist or by an individual under
the direct supervision of a medical physicist.
(Source: Amended at 33 Ill.
Reg. 2224, effective January 23, 2009)
 | TITLE 32: ENERGY
CHAPTER II: ILLINOIS EMERGENCY MANAGEMENT AGENCY AND OFFICE OF HOMELAND SECURITY SUBCHAPTER b: RADIATION PROTECTION
PART 370
QUALITY STANDARDS AND CERTIFICATION REQUIREMENTS
FOR FACILITIES PERFORMING MAMMOGRAPHY
SECTION 370.120 ADDITIONAL ADMINISTRATIVE REQUIREMENTS
Section 370.120 Additional
Administrative Requirements
a) Every operator of a radiation installation at which
mammography services are provided shall ensure and have confirmed by each
mammography patient that the patient is provided with a pamphlet that is orally
reviewed with the patient and that contains the following:
1) How to perform breast self-examination;
2) That early detection of breast cancer is maximized through
a combined approach, using monthly breast self-examination, a thorough physical
examination performed by a physician, and mammography performed at recommended
intervals;
3) That mammography is the most accurate method for making an
early detection of breast cancer, however, no diagnostic tool is 100%
effective;
4) If the patient is self-referred and does not have a primary
care physician, or if the patient is unfamiliar with the breast examination
procedures, that the patient has received information regarding public health
services where she can obtain a breast examination and instructions. [420
ILCS 40/5(c)]
b) Facility cleanliness.
1) The facility shall establish and implement adequate protocols
for maintaining darkroom, screen and view box cleanliness.
2) The facility shall document that all cleaning procedures are
performed at the frequencies specified in the protocols.
c) Infection control. Facilities shall establish and comply with
a system specifying procedures to be followed by the facility for cleaning and
disinfecting mammography equipment after contact with blood or other
potentially infectious materials. This system shall specify the methods for
documenting facility compliance with the infection control procedures
established and shall:
1) Comply with the manufacturer's recommended procedures for the
cleaning and disinfection of the mammography equipment used in the facility; or
2) If adequate manufacturer's recommendations are not available,
comply with generally accepted guidance on infection control, until such
recommendations become available.
d) Mammographic procedure and techniques for mammography of
patients with breast implants.
1) Each facility shall have a procedure to inquire whether or not
the patient has breast implants prior to the actual mammographic exam.
2) Except where contraindicated, or unless modified by a
physician's directions, patients with breast implants undergoing mammography
shall have mammographic views to maximize the visualization of breast tissue.
e) Consumer complaint mechanism. Each facility shall:
1) Establish a written and documented system for collecting and
resolving consumer complaints;
2) Maintain a record of each serious complaint received by the
facility for at least 3 years after the date the complaint was received;
3) Provide the consumer with adequate directions for filing
serious complaints with the facility's accreditation body if the facility is
unable to resolve a serious complaint to the consumer's satisfaction;
4) Report unresolved serious complaints to the accreditation body
in a manner and timeframe specified by the accreditation body.
f) Clinical image quality. Clinical images produced by any
certified facility shall continue to comply with the standards for clinical
image quality established by that facility's accreditation body.
 | TITLE 32: ENERGY
CHAPTER II: ILLINOIS EMERGENCY MANAGEMENT AGENCY AND OFFICE OF HOMELAND SECURITY SUBCHAPTER b: RADIATION PROTECTION
PART 370
QUALITY STANDARDS AND CERTIFICATION REQUIREMENTS
FOR FACILITIES PERFORMING MAMMOGRAPHY
SECTION 370.130 MAMMOGRAPHY MEDICAL OUTCOMES AUDIT
Section 370.130 Mammography
Medical Outcomes Audit
Each facility shall establish
and maintain a mammography medical outcomes audit program to follow up positive
mammographic assessments and to correlate pathology results with the
interpreting physician's findings. This program shall be designed to ensure the
reliability, clarity and accuracy of the interpretation of mammograms.
a) General requirements. Each facility shall establish a system
to collect and review outcome data for all mammograms performed, including
followup on the disposition of all positive mammograms and correlation of
pathology results with the interpreting physician's mammography report.
Analysis of these outcome data shall be made individually and collectively for
all interpreting physicians at the facility. In addition, any cases of breast
cancer among patients imaged at the facility that subsequently become known to
the facility shall prompt the facility to initiate followup on surgical and/or
pathology results and review of the mammograms taken prior to the diagnosis of
a malignancy.
b) Frequency of audit analysis. The facility's first audit
analysis shall be initiated no later than 12 months after the date the facility
becomes certified. This audit analysis shall be completed within an additional
12 months to permit completion of diagnostic procedures and data collection.
Subsequent audit analyses will be conducted at least once every 12 months.
c) Audit interpreting physician. Each facility shall designate
at least one interpreting physician to review the medical outcomes audit data
at least once every 12 months. This individual shall record the dates of the
audit periods and shall be responsible for analyzing results based on this
audit. This individual shall also be responsible for documenting the results,
notifying other interpreting physicians of their results and the facility
aggregate results. If followup actions are taken, the audit interpreting
physician shall also be responsible for documenting the nature of the followup.
(Source: Amended at 29 Ill.
Reg. 20963, effective December 16, 2005)
 | TITLE 32: ENERGY
CHAPTER II: ILLINOIS EMERGENCY MANAGEMENT AGENCY AND OFFICE OF HOMELAND SECURITY SUBCHAPTER b: RADIATION PROTECTION
PART 370
QUALITY STANDARDS AND CERTIFICATION REQUIREMENTS
FOR FACILITIES PERFORMING MAMMOGRAPHY
SECTION 370.140 ADDITIONAL MAMMOGRAPHY REVIEW AND PATIENT NOTIFICATION
Section 370.140 Additional
Mammography Review and Patient Notification
a) If the Agency believes that mammography quality at a facility
has been compromised and may present a serious risk to human health, the
facility shall provide clinical images and other relevant information, as
specified by the Agency, for review by the accreditation body. This additional
mammography review will help the Agency to determine whether the facility is in
compliance with this Part and, if not, whether there is a need to notify
affected patients, their physicians or the public that the reliability, clarity
and accuracy of interpretation of mammograms has been compromised.
b) If the Agency determines that the quality of mammography
performed by a facility, whether or not certified under Section 370.50 of this
Part, was so inconsistent with the quality standards established in this Part
as to present a significant risk to individual or public health, the Agency may
require the facility to notify patients who received mammograms at the
facility, and their referring physicians, of the deficiencies presenting the risk,
the potential harm resulting, appropriate remedial measures and other relevant
information as the Agency may require.
(Source: Amended at 29 Ill.
Reg. 20963, effective December 16, 2005)
 | TITLE 32: ENERGY
CHAPTER II: ILLINOIS EMERGENCY MANAGEMENT AGENCY AND OFFICE OF HOMELAND SECURITY SUBCHAPTER b: RADIATION PROTECTION
PART 370
QUALITY STANDARDS AND CERTIFICATION REQUIREMENTS
FOR FACILITIES PERFORMING MAMMOGRAPHY
SECTION 370.145 NOTIFICATION REQUIREMENTS FOR MOBILE MAMMOGRAPHY FACILITIES CERTIFIED BY ANOTHER CERTIFYING ENTITY
Section 370.145 Notification
Requirements for Mobile Mammography Facilities Certified by Another Certifying
Entity
Mobile mammography facilities
that operate in Illinois and are certified under MQSA by the FDA, or another
state authorized by FDA to certify mammography facilities under MQSA, shall:
a) Notify the Agency by telephone, facsimile or letter of each
date and location of operation of the mobile mammography facility in Illinois
prior to conducting such operation.
AGENCY NOTE: Notifications submitted by the mobile
mammography facility to the Agency may contain notice of multiple dates and
locations of operation by the mobile mammography facility.
b) At all times while operating in Illinois, have the following
documentation available for review and inspection by the Agency:
1) A copy of the mammography facility certificate issued by the
FDA or another state, showing that the facility is currently certified.
2) A summary of the most recent physics survey of the mammography
machine and documentation of any corrective actions recommended by the medical
physicist who performed the physics survey.
3) Documentation that personnel meet the qualifications of
Section 370.70 of this Part.
(Source: Amended at 29 Ill.
Reg. 20963, effective December 16, 2005)
 | TITLE 32: ENERGY
CHAPTER II: ILLINOIS EMERGENCY MANAGEMENT AGENCY AND OFFICE OF HOMELAND SECURITY SUBCHAPTER b: RADIATION PROTECTION
PART 370
QUALITY STANDARDS AND CERTIFICATION REQUIREMENTS
FOR FACILITIES PERFORMING MAMMOGRAPHY
SECTION 370.150 REVOCATION OF ACCREDITATION AND REVOCATION OF ACCREDITATION BODY APPROVAL
Section 370.150 Revocation
of Accreditation and Revocation of Accreditation Body Approval
If a facility's accreditation is
revoked by an accreditation body, the Agency may conduct an investigation into
the reasons for the revocation. Following the investigation, the Agency may
act to suspend or revoke the facility's certificate and may take whatever other
action or combination of actions will best protect the public health, including
requiring the establishment and implementation of a corrective plan of action
that will permit the certificate to continue in effect while the facility seeks
reaccreditation. A facility whose certificate is suspended or revoked because
it has lost its accreditation may not practice mammography.
(Source: Amended at 29 Ill.
Reg. 20963, effective December 16, 2005)
 | TITLE 32: ENERGY
CHAPTER II: ILLINOIS EMERGENCY MANAGEMENT AGENCY AND OFFICE OF HOMELAND SECURITY SUBCHAPTER b: RADIATION PROTECTION
PART 370
QUALITY STANDARDS AND CERTIFICATION REQUIREMENTS
FOR FACILITIES PERFORMING MAMMOGRAPHY
SECTION 370.160 SUSPENSION, REVOCATION OR DENIAL OF CERTIFICATES
Section 370.160 Suspension,
Revocation or Denial of Certificates
a) The Agency may suspend, revoke or deny a certificate if the Agency
finds that the owner, operator or any employee of the facility:
1) Has been guilty of misrepresentation in obtaining the
certificate;
2) Has failed to comply with the standards of Sections 370.70,
370.80, 370.90, 370.100, 370.110, 370.120 and 370.130 of this Part;
3) Has failed to comply with reasonable requests of the Agency or
the accreditation body for records, information, reports, or materials that the
Agency believes are necessary to determine the continued eligibility of the
facility for a certificate or continued compliance with the standards of
Sections 370.70, 370.80, 370.90, 370.100, 370.110, 370.120, 370.130 and 370.140
of this Part;
4) Has refused a reasonable request of a duly designated FDA
inspector, Agency inspector, or accreditation body representative for
permission to inspect the facility or the operations and pertinent records of
the facility;
5) Has violated or aided and abetted in the violation of any
provision of this Part;
6) Has failed to comply with prior sanctions imposed by the Agency;
and
7) Has failed to pay any required fees.
b) If, based upon any of the grounds in subsection (a) of this
Section, the Agency determines that action to suspend, revoke or deny
certification is warranted, the Agency shall notify the owner or operator of a
facility and shall provide an opportunity for hearing in accordance with 32
Ill. Adm. Code 200.
c) The Agency may suspend the certificate of a facility before
holding a hearing if the Agency determines that:
1) The failure to comply with required standards presents a
serious risk to human health;
2) The refusal to permit inspection makes immediate suspension
necessary; or
3) There is reason to believe that the violation or aiding and
abetting of the violation was intentional or associated with fraud.
d) If the Agency suspends a certificate in accordance with
subsection (c) of this Section:
1) The Agency shall provide the facility with an opportunity for
a hearing under 32 Ill. Adm. Code 200 not later than 30 days after the
effective date of the suspension;
2) The suspension shall remain in effect until the Agency
determines that:
A) Allegations of violations or misconduct were not substantiated;
B) Violations of required standards have been corrected to the Agency's
satisfaction; or
C) The facility's certificate is revoked in accordance with
subsection (e) of this Section.
e) After providing a hearing in accordance with subsection (d)(1)
of this Section, the Agency may revoke the facility's certificate if the Agency
determines that the facility:
1) Is unwilling or unable to correct violations that were the
basis for suspension; or
2) Has engaged in fraudulent activity to obtain or continue
certification.
(Source: Amended at 29 Ill.
Reg. 20963, effective December 16, 2005)
 | TITLE 32: ENERGY
CHAPTER II: ILLINOIS EMERGENCY MANAGEMENT AGENCY AND OFFICE OF HOMELAND SECURITY SUBCHAPTER b: RADIATION PROTECTION
PART 370
QUALITY STANDARDS AND CERTIFICATION REQUIREMENTS
FOR FACILITIES PERFORMING MAMMOGRAPHY
SECTION 370.165 FAILURE OF MOBILE MAMMOGRAPHY FACILITIES CERTIFIED BY ANOTHER CERTIFYING ENTITY TO MEET REQUIREMENTS
Section 370.165 Failure of
Mobile Mammography Facilities Certified by Another Certifying Entity to Meet
Requirements
If the Agency has reason to
believe that the owner, operator or any employee of a mobile mammography
facility certified by another certifying entity:
a) has been guilty of misrepresentation in obtaining the
certificate;
b) has failed to comply with the standards of Sections 370.70,
370.80, 370.90, 370.100, 370.110, 370.120 or 370.130 of this Part;
c) has failed to comply with reasonable requests of the Agency
for records, information, reports, or materials that the Agency believes are
necessary to determine the continued eligibility of the facility for a
certificate or continued compliance with the standards of Sections 370.70,
370.80, 370.90, 370.100, 370.110, 370.120, 370.130 or 370.140 of this Part; or
d) has refused a reasonable request of a Agency representative
for permission to inspect the facility or the operations and pertinent records
of the facility;
the Agency shall notify the
certifying entity of the facts and circumstances and may take other actions as
may be appropriate under Sections 36, 38 or 40 of the Radiation Protection Act
of 1990 [420 ILCS 40/36, 38, and 40].
(Source: Amended at 29 Ill.
Reg. 20963, effective December 16, 2005)
 | TITLE 32: ENERGY
CHAPTER II: ILLINOIS EMERGENCY MANAGEMENT AGENCY AND OFFICE OF HOMELAND SECURITY SUBCHAPTER b: RADIATION PROTECTION
PART 370
QUALITY STANDARDS AND CERTIFICATION REQUIREMENTS
FOR FACILITIES PERFORMING MAMMOGRAPHY
SECTION 370.170 MAMMOGRAPHY UNITS USED FOR LOCALIZATION OR BIOPSY PROCEDURES
Section 370.170 Mammography
Units Used for Localization or Biopsy Procedures
a) Personnel. The following requirements apply to all personnel
involved in localization or biopsy procedures performed with mammography units:
1) The mammography unit shall be operated by or under the
direction of a physician licensed under the Medical Practice Act of 1987 [225
ILCS 60].
2) Radiologic technologists operating mammography units for
localization or biopsy procedures shall meet the general requirements,
mammography requirements and continuing education and experience requirements
as specified in Section 370.70(b) of this Part.
3) Medical physicists who perform and provide oversight of
quality assurance programs for mammography units used for biopsy procedures
shall meet the requirements of Section 370.70(c) of this Part.
b) Equipment. Mammography units used for localization or biopsy
procedures shall meet the requirements of Section 370.80 of this Part, except
that digital output mammography systems that do not use screen-film image
receptors are exempt from the requirements of Section 370.80 of this Part as
they relate to screen-film image receptors.
c) Quality assurance. Each facility shall establish and maintain
a quality assurance program to ensure the safety, reliability, clarity and
accuracy of mammography localization or biopsy procedures performed at the
facility.
1) Each facility shall have the services of a medical physicist
available to survey mammography equipment and to oversee the equipment-related
quality assurance practices of the facility.
2) The quality assurance program shall be in writing and shall
have been developed by a medical physicist. The program shall include, but
need not be limited to, the following:
A) Specifications of the tests that are to be performed, including
instructions to be employed in the performance of those tests; and
B) Specifications of the frequency at which tests are to be
performed, the acceptable tolerance for each parameter measured and actions to
be taken if tolerances are exceeded.
3) The medical physicist shall conduct a review of the quality
assurance program each year. Such review shall include evaluation of the
results of quality assurance testing.
d) Each facility shall maintain written records of the radiation
dose measurements and quality assurance testing performed, as required in this
Section, for inspection by the Agency for a period of at least one year. Such
records shall include, but need not be limited to, the following:
1) The date of the test and identification of the person
performing the test;
2) Identification of the type of testing that was performed; and
3) Notation of whether the results of the testing were within the
parameters established by the medical physicist.
AGENCY NOTE:
The Agency recommends that facilities performing interventional mammography
seek accreditation through the Stereotactic Breast Biopsy Program of the
American College of Radiology.
(Source: Amended at 29 Ill.
Reg. 20963, effective December 16, 2005)
Section 370.APPENDIX A Mammography Dose Measurement Protocol
 | TITLE 32: ENERGY
CHAPTER II: ILLINOIS EMERGENCY MANAGEMENT AGENCY AND OFFICE OF HOMELAND SECURITY SUBCHAPTER b: RADIATION PROTECTION
PART 370
QUALITY STANDARDS AND CERTIFICATION REQUIREMENTS
FOR FACILITIES PERFORMING MAMMOGRAPHY
SECTION 370.APPENDIX A MAMMOGRAPHY DOSE MEASUREMENT PROTOCOL
Section 370.APPENDIX A Mammography
Dose Measurement Protocol
The technique factors used for
performing a mammography examination shall not permit the mean glandular
absorbed dose to exceed the limits specified in Section 370.110(e)(7) of this
Part. Radiation measurements shall be performed with an integrating radiation
measuring device that is appropriate to the high beam intensity and
mammographic kilovoltage peak (kVp) used, and sufficiently sensitive to
determine compliance with the criteria specified in Section 370.110(i)(2) of
this Part. The instrument shall have been calibrated as specified in Section
370.110(i)(2) of this Part.
The mammography exam dose limits
are based on an average compressed breast value of 4.2 centimeters having an
average density (i.e., 50 percent adipose and 50 percent glandular).
Perform the following steps to
determine the mean glandular dose to a nominal 4.2 centimeter compressed
breast:
a) Measure and record the x-ray system's useful beam half-value
layer (HVL). (See Section 370.110(e)(5) of this Part.) Any compression device
normally in the useful beam during mammography procedures shall be required to
be placed between the x-ray tube target and measuring device when determining
the HVL. The useful beam shall be collimated to a size encompassing the
detector.
AGENCY NOTE: Filters used for the HVL evaluation should be
placed as close to the target as practical. The HVL for screen-film
mammography should not exceed the minimum acceptable HVL by more than 0.1
millimeter of aluminum equivalent.
b) Determine the glandular dose to entrance exposure factor from
the Mammography Dose Evaluation Table (see Table A of this Part) using the
appropriate HVL, kVp and x-ray tube target-filter material.
AGENCY NOTE: The kVp of screen-film mammography systems with
molybdenum target-filter combinations should be accurately measured to
determine the appropriate glandular dose to entrance exposure factor from Table
A of this Part.
c) If the equipment has the capability for variable source-image
receptor distance, set the craniocaudal source-image receptor distance (SID)
for the image receptor system used.
d) Position in the useful beam any compression apparatus normally
used.
AGENCY NOTE: Some mammography systems have the capability of
providing automatic adjustment of technique factors through feedback from the
position of the compression device. On such systems, the compression device
should be lowered to a position 4.2 centimeters above the breast support
assembly (BSA). The device should then be removed, inverted and replaced to
allow placement of the phantom and measuring device on the BSA below the
compression device. If the compression device cannot be replaced in an
inverted position, the device should be placed in the beam using auxiliary
support.
e) Placement of the Radiation Measuring Device
1) For systems equipped with automatic exposure control (AEC):
A) Place a properly loaded film cassette in the cassette holder.
AGENCY NOTE: The loaded cassette is placed in the cassette
holder to simulate, as much as is possible, the conditions under which actual
patient exposures are made. Following radiation measurements, the film should
be discarded and the cassette reloaded with unexposed film.
B) Place a mammography phantom (see the definition for
"Phantom" in Section 370.20 of this Part) on the breast support
assembly (BSA). Align the phantom so that the edge of the phantom is aligned
with the chest wall side of the BSA and the phantom is over the automatic
exposure control device(s).
C) Place a radiation measuring device in the useful beam so the
center axis of the device is parallel to the breast support assembly (BSA).
The geometric center of the measuring device shall be positioned 4.5
centimeters above the BSA, 2.5 centimeters from the chest wall edge of the BSA
and immediately adjacent to either side of the mammography phantom.
2) For systems not equipped with AEC, place a radiation measuring
device in the useful beam so that the center axis of the device is parallel to
the breast support assembly (BSA). The geometric center of the measuring
device shall be positioned so that it is centered 4.5 centimeters above the
BSA, 2.5 centimeters from the chest wall edge of the BSA and at the center line
of the BSA. No part of the device's detector area shall be outside of the
useful beam.
f) Collimate the x-ray field to the size normally used and assure
that the area covered by the useful beam includes the detector area of the
radiation measuring device and the mammography phantom if the equipment is
equipped with automatic exposure.
g) Set the appropriate technique factors or automatic exposure
controls normally used for a nominal 4.2 centimeter compressed breast.
h) Measure and record the exposure in air with the radiation
measuring device.
i) Calculate the mean glandular dose for a 4.2 centimeter
compressed breast by multiplying the measured exposure in millicoulombs per
kilogram or in roentgens by the glandular dose to entrance exposure factor,
which was determined using the procedure described in subsection (b) of this
Section.
EXAMPLE: A mammography system is provided with a molybdenum
target-filter combination, and the HVL and kVp are determined to be 0.3 and 30,
respectively. Therefore, for a 4.2 centimeter compressed breast, the glandular
dose to entrance exposure factor from the Mammography Dose Evaluation Table
(Table A of this Part) would be 159 mrad. The measured roentgen output
determined in subsection (h) of this Appendix is determined to be 1.8 R.
Therefore, the mean glandular dose would be 1.8 R multiplied by 159 mrad/R.
This results in a mean glandular dose measurement of 286 mrad. As such, the
system would be in compliance with Section 370.110(e)(7) of this Part.
 | TITLE 32: ENERGY
CHAPTER II: ILLINOIS EMERGENCY MANAGEMENT AGENCY AND OFFICE OF HOMELAND SECURITY SUBCHAPTER b: RADIATION PROTECTION
PART 370
QUALITY STANDARDS AND CERTIFICATION REQUIREMENTS
FOR FACILITIES PERFORMING MAMMOGRAPHY
SECTION 370.APPENDIX B MAMMOGRAPHY PHANTOM IMAGE EVALUATION
Section 370.APPENDIX B Mammography
Phantom Image Evaluation
Mammography phantom image
evaluation shall be performed using the procedure below. The evaluation shall
be performed weekly as a part of the quality assurance program. The evaluation
shall be performed with the mammography phantom specified in Section 370.20 of
this Part.
a) Equipment necessary for mammography phantom image evaluation
includes a densitometer, the mammography phantom and mammographic cassette and
film.
b) Load film in the mammographic cassette according to the
manufacturer's instructions.
c) Place the properly loaded cassette in the cassette holder.
d) Place the mammography phantom on the breast support assembly
(BSA) so that the edge of the phantom is aligned with the chest wall side of
the BSA. Align the phantom so that the masses in the phantom are nearest the
chest wall edge of the BSA and the fibers in the phantom are away from the
chest wall edge of the BSA. If the mammography machine has the capability of
automatic exposure control, place the phantom so that the phantom covers the
phototimer sensor.
e) Position the compression device so that it is in contact with
the phantom.
f) Select the technique factors used most frequently in the
clinical setting for a 4.2 centimeter compressed breast and make an exposure of
the phantom.
g) Process the film in the processor used for clinical
mammography films.
h) Examine the processed image for areas of non-uniformity of
optical density and for the presence of artifacts due to dirt, dust, grid lines
or processing.
AGENCY NOTE: If any of the problems noted above are evident
on the processed image, the mammography machine film processor and film
cassette(s) should be evaluated and the problem corrected. The phantom image
evaluation should be repeated after the problem is corrected.
i) Measure and record the optical density of the film near the
center of the phantom image. The optical density of the film at the center of
the image of the phantom shall be at least 1.20 when exposed under a typical
clinical condition.
j) Examine the phantom image and count and record the number of
masses visualized. Repeat this procedure for the speck groups and the fibrils
and record the number of objects visualized. There are a total of 16 imaging
objects (5 masses, 5 speck groups and 6 fibrils) in the phantom. Evaluation
criteria for objects visualized in the phantom image are in Section
370.110(b)(3) of this Part. As a minimum, the objects that must be visualized
in the phantom image are:
1) The masses that are 0.75 millimeter or larger (a total of 3
masses);
2) The speck groups that are 0.32 millimeter or larger (a total
of 3 speck groups);
3) The fibrils that are 0.75 millimeter or larger (a total of 4
fibrils).
AGENCY NOTE: The phantom image should be compared with previous films,
including the original phantom image, to determine if subtle changes are
occurring from week to week.
 | TITLE 32: ENERGY
CHAPTER II: ILLINOIS EMERGENCY MANAGEMENT AGENCY AND OFFICE OF HOMELAND SECURITY SUBCHAPTER b: RADIATION PROTECTION
PART 370
QUALITY STANDARDS AND CERTIFICATION REQUIREMENTS
FOR FACILITIES PERFORMING MAMMOGRAPHY
SECTION 370.TABLE A MAMMOGRAPHY DOSE EVALUATION TABLE
Section 370.TABLE A Mammography
Dose Evaluation Table
This Table is used to determine
the mean glandular dose in milligrays delivered by 25.8 mC/kg (or millirad)
delivered by 1 R in air incident on a 4.2 centimeter thickness compressed
breast of average density (50 percent adipose and 50 percent glandular tissue).
Values listed are for the first half-value layer (HVL) in millimeters of
aluminum (mm Al), for x-ray tube target-filter combinations of
molybdenum/molybdenum (Mo/Mo) and tungsten/ aluminum (W/Al). Linear
extrapolation or interpolation shall be made for any HVL not listed.
Mean Glandular Dose in
milligrays for 25.8 mC/kg (or millirad for 1 R) Entrance Exposure for a 4.2
Centimeter Compressed Breast of Average Density
|
HVL
|
Mo/Mo Target-Filter X-Ray Tube Voltage (kVp)
|
W-A1 Target-
|
|
(mm AL)
|
23
|
24
|
25
|
26
|
27
|
28
|
29
|
30
|
31
|
32
|
33
|
Filter Combination
|
|
0.23
|
116
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
0.24
|
121
|
124
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
0.25
|
126
|
129
|
131
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
0.26
|
130
|
133
|
135
|
138
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
0.27
|
135
|
138
|
140
|
142
|
143
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
0.28
|
140
|
142
|
144
|
146
|
147
|
149
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
0.29
|
144
|
146
|
148
|
150
|
151
|
153
|
154
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
0.30
|
149
|
151
|
153
|
155
|
156
|
157
|
158
|
159
|
|
|
|
170
|
|
0.31
|
154
|
156
|
157
|
159
|
160
|
161
|
162
|
163
|
164
|
|
|
175
|
|
0.32
|
158
|
160
|
162
|
163
|
164
|
166
|
167
|
168
|
168
|
170
|
171
|
180
|
|
0.33
|
163
|
165
|
166
|
168
|
169
|
170
|
171
|
173
|
173
|
174
|
175
|
185
|
|
0.34
|
168
|
170
|
171
|
172
|
173
|
174
|
175
|
176
|
177
|
178
|
179
|
190
|
|
0.35
|
|
174
|
175
|
176
|
177
|
178
|
179
|
180
|
181
|
182
|
183
|
194
|
|
0.36
|
|
|
179
|
181
|
182
|
183
|
184
|
185
|
185
|
186
|
187
|
199
|
|
0.37
|
|
|
|
185
|
186
|
187
|
188
|
189
|
190
|
191
|
191
|
204
|
|
0.38
|
|
|
|
|
190
|
191
|
192
|
193
|
194
|
195
|
195
|
208
|
|
0.39
|
|
|
|
|
|
196
|
197
|
198
|
198
|
199
|
200
|
213
|
|
0.40
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
201
|
202
|
203
|
204
|
204
|
217
|
|
0.41
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
206
|
207
|
208
|
208
|
221
|
|
0.42
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
211
|
212
|
212
|
225
|
|
0.43
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
215
|
216
|
230
|
|
0.44
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
220
|
234
|
|
0.45
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
238
|
AGENCY NOTE: Adapted from:
Mammography Quality Control Manual: Medical Physicist's Section, Revised
Edition, 1999.
(Source: Amended at 33 Ill.
Reg. 2224, effective January 23, 2009)
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|