Compression force variability in mammography in Ghana – a baseline study

Dzidzornu, E; Angmorterh, SK; Ofori-Manteaw, BB; Aboagye, S; Ofori, EK; Owusu-Agyei, S; Hogg, P

Abstract

Introduction: Breast compression during mammographic examinations improves image quality and patient management. Several studies have been conducted to assess compression force variability among practitioners in order to establish compression guidelines. However, no such study has been conducted in Ghana. This study aims to investigate the compression force variability in mammography in Ghana.

Methods: This retrospective study used data gathered from 1071 screening and diagnostic mammography patients from January, 2018–December, 2019. Data were gathered by seven radiographers at three centers. Compression force, breast thickness and practitioners' years of work experience were recorded. Compression force variability among practitioners and the correlation between compression force and breast thickness were investigated.

Results: Mean compression force values recorded for craniocaudal (CC) (17.2 daN) and mediolateral oblique (MLO) (18.2 daN), were within the recommended values used by western countries. Most of the mammograms performed – 80% – were within the National Health Service Breast Screening Programme (NHSBSP) range. However, 65% were above the Norwegian Breast Cancer Screening Programme (NBCSP) range. Compression forces varied significantly (p = 0.0001) among practitioners. Compression forces increased significantly (p = 0.0001) with the years of work experience. A weak negative correlation (r = −0.144) and a weak positive correlation (r = 0.142) were established between compression force and breast thickness for CC and MLO projections respectively.

Conclusion: This initial study confirmed that although wide variations in compression force exist among practitioners in Ghana, most practitioners used compression forces broadly within the range set by the NHSBSP. As no national guidelines for compression force currently exist in Ghana, provision of these may help to reduce the range of variations recorded.

Implications for practice: Confirmation of variations in compression will guide future practice to minimize image quality disparities and improve quality of care.

Citation

Dzidzornu, E., Angmorterh, S., Ofori-Manteaw, B., Aboagye, S., Ofori, E., Owusu-Agyei, S., & Hogg, P. (2021). Compression force variability in mammography in Ghana – a baseline study. Radiography, 27(1), 150-155. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.radi.2020.07.007

• Journal Article Type: Article
• Acceptance Date: Jul 10, 2020
• Online Publication Date: Jul 30, 2020
• Publication Date: Feb 1, 2021
• Deposit Date: Aug 5, 2020
• Publicly Available Date: Jul 30, 2021
• Journal: Radiography
• Print ISSN: 1078-8174
• Electronic ISSN: 1532-2831
• Publisher: Elsevier
• Volume: 27
• Issue: 1
• Pages: 150-155
• DOI: https://doi.org/10.1016/j.radi.2020.07.007
• Publisher URL: https://doi.org/10.1016/j.radi.2020.07.007
• Related Public URLs: https://www.journals.elsevier.com/radiography
• Additional Information: Additional Information : ** Article version: AM ** Embargo end date: 31-12-9999 ** From Elsevier via Jisc Publications Router ** Licence for AM version of this article: This article is under embargo with an end date yet to be finalised. **Journal IDs: issn 10788174 **History: issue date 30-07-2020; accepted 10-07-2020