What is Small Field Digital Mammography (SFDM) and is it a mammographic modality?
Small Field Digital Mammography (SFDM) refers to the use of a small digital image receptor (usually an add-on component to a film-screen system) to produce mammographic images. Because this small receptor cannot image the entire breast, it cannot generally be used for screening examinations and in almost all cases is limited to only a portion of the breast for either interventional or diagnostic purposes. When used for diagnostic purposes, SFDM is considered a subpart of the Full Field Digital Mammography (FFDM) mammographic modality. (See Question 6 below) Question 6: Which MQSA requirements must SFDM meet in order to use it clinically? If the SFDM receptor is part of a mammography unit that is used solely for interventional procedures, the unit and the receptor are excluded from all MQSA requirements. If the SFDM receptor is part of a mammography unit that is used for mammography, either screening and/or diagnostic, then the unit and the SFDM receptor must meet the following MQSA req
