Assessment of Mean Glandular Dose in Mammography System with Different Anode-Filter Combinations Using MCNP Code.

Area of Science:

• Radiology and Medical Imaging
• Medical Physics
• Radiation Dosimetry

Background:

• X-ray mammography is crucial for early breast cancer detection.
• Minimizing radiation dose to sensitive glandular breast tissue is essential.
• Understanding factors influencing radiation dose is vital for patient safety.

Purpose of the Study:

• To determine the average absorbed X-ray radiation dose in breast glandular tissue during mammography.
• To investigate factors influencing the mean glandular dose (MGD).
• To evaluate different anode/filter combinations for dose optimization.

Main Methods:

• Monte Carlo simulation using MCNPX code.
• Simulation of a digital mammography system with an amorphous-selenium detector.
• Analysis of various anode/filter combinations (W/Ag, W/Rh, Rh/Al), X-ray tube voltages (24-32 kV), breast phantom thicknesses (3-8 cm), and glandular fractions (10-100%).

Main Results:

• Mean glandular dose (MGD) varied with anode/filter combinations, tube voltage, phantom thickness, and glandular fraction.
• Increased glandular fraction and X-ray tube voltage led to higher breast dose.
• Increased breast phantom thickness resulted in decreased MGD.

Conclusions:

• The tungsten/rhodium (W/Rh) anode/filter combination is recommended for mammography due to the lowest delivered dose.
• Breast thickness and glandular fraction are significant factors affecting MGD.
• Optimizing these parameters can further reduce patient radiation exposure.