Characterization of the reciprocity law failure in three mammography screen-film systems

The purpose of this project was to quantify reciprocity law failure (RLF) for mammography screen-film systems. Three widely used screen-film systems were evaluated: the Kodak MinR 2000 system. Fuji UM Mammo Fine screen and Fuji UM MA HC film, and Agfa MR Detail screen and Agfa Mammoray MR5 film. The logit algorithm that linearizes logistic curve shapes was utilized to characterize film sensitometric response. Different values of mammographic phantom thickness, tube current, and kVp were used to vary screen-film exposure rates. RLF was quantified by examining the dependence of logit parameters (maximum and minimum film density, curve shift, and slope) on exposure rate. The shift of the logit curve was found to be a good indicator of the screen-film system speed, while the slope of the logit curve is affected by the RLF. RLF leads to changes in film contrast as well as speed. For the range of exposure rates measured (50-fold), screen-film contrast and speed varied by factors of 2 and 3.5, respectively. Film contrast decreased as exposure rate increased. The greatest changes were observed with the Kodak MinR 2000 screen-film system.