[Absorption dose in scintimammography and in X-rays mammography]

Absorbed dose calculations in diagnostic applications using ionizing radiation are more accurate today than in past times. In this work we aim to demonstrate the methods used to calculate the absorbed dose of X-rays mammography and scintimammography. Absorbed dose estimation is achieved by calculations for internal dosimetry using Medical Internal Radiation Dose (MIRD), or Monte Carlo techniques, measurements in phantoms for mammography as well as patient specific calculations exploiting scintigraphic images' data. Especially, the accurate calculation of the absorbed doses during diagnostic examinations of the breast gives the possibility of evaluation of the danger of the use of ionizing radiation for this organ. Optimization of used techniques points to the reduction of the radiation burden of the examined person, by these screening tests. As the radio sensitivity of breast is high, the selection of an accurate absorbed dose calculation method is necessary. The weighting factor for breast is 0.12. This is the maximum value of the weighting factor for the various organs of the human body. Consequently, a detailed study of absorbed dose in breast, either in mammography or scintimammography, is crucial.