COURSE NAME:  Mammography Positioining Refresher - On Demand

COURSE SUMMARY: This course is designed to improve the mammographer's positioning skills and procedures for CC, MLO, Supplemental Views and Male Patient Imaging.  The course is often requested as part of accreditation requirements for mammography positioning.  Any radiographer may take this course to learn or refresh their skills.  A good review of QC for images is included.  The faculty for this course is a qualified MQSA mammography trainer.

COURSE TOPICS: 

 CC refresher 

• Standards and requirements for optimal positioning of  the CC view
• Achieving adequate visualization of posterior tissue
• Achieving adequate visualization of superior tissue
• Mobile margins of the breast and  how they affect positioning
• Elevating the breast-consequences of over elevating
• Elevating the breast-consequences of under elevating
• Posterior nipple line (PNL) measurement

MLO refresher

• Standards and requirements for optimal positioning of  the MLO view
• Achieving adequate visualization of posterior tissue
• What is the right angle of the image receptor for the MLO view?
• Achieving optimal muscle pattern
• Mobile margins of the breast and  how they affect positioning
• Mobilizing the breast-consequences of  inadequate mobilization
• Mobilizing the breast-consequences of  over mobilization
• Achieving adequate visualization of  inferior tissue
• Where is my IMF?  I know it was on there!

Supplemental View (.5 hr Image Production, 1.5 hours Procedures)

• Magnification
• Tailoring the Examination: Imaging The Augmented Breast
• Imaging The Postoperative and Reconstructed Breast

Supplemental Views and Male Patient Exams (1 hr Procedures)

• Implants
• Male Patients
• Difficult Patients
• Post-Surgical Patients

 Image Critique & Review 

• Landmarks for image critique
• Is all the breast tissue imaged??
• Are there any deficiencies?
• You be the ACR reviewer!
• PASS or FAIL?

Objectives:

1. List the standards for positioning the routine views.
2. Identify the step that will assure adequate visualization of posterior tissue on the CC view.
3. Describe the adequate muscle pattern on the MLO view.
4. Evaluate the images for optimal compression.
5. Discuss the importance of consistent positioning.
6. Evaluate the images for motion or geometric blur.
7. Discuss PNL measurement and how to use it.
8. Obtain adequate IMF on the MLO.
9. Understand how to  correct positioning deficiencies
10. Discuss proper positioning of the augmented patient
11. Discuss compression on the augmented patient
12. Critique a mammographic image for acceptable technical factors
13. Critique a mammographic image for acceptable positioning criteria for the cranio-caudal view
14. Critique a mammographic image for acceptable positioning criteria for the mediolateral oblique
15. List three positioning techniques