Breast dosimetry in alternative X-ray-based imaging modalities used in current clinical practices

Area of Science:

• Radiology and Medical Imaging
• Radiation Dosimetry
• Breast Imaging Technologies

Background:

• Digital Mammography (DM) and Digital Breast Tomosynthesis (DBT) are standard X-ray breast imaging techniques.
• Emerging modalities like Breast Computed Tomography (BCT) and Contrast Enhanced Mammography (CEM) offer alternatives or complements.
• Continuous assessment of performance, image quality, and radiation dose is crucial for these technologies.

Purpose of the Study:

• To detail the radiation dosimetry for BCT and CEM.
• To compare the mean glandular dose (MGD) of these advanced techniques with standard DM and DBT.
• To evaluate their potential role in diagnostic and screening settings, particularly for women with dense breasts.

Main Methods:

• Review of radiation dosimetry principles for X-ray breast imaging modalities.
• Comparison of reported mean glandular dose (MGD) values.
• Analysis of MGD data for DM, DBT, BCT, and CEM.

Main Results:

• The review aims to present a comparative analysis of MGD across different breast imaging techniques.
• Findings will highlight dose variations and establish benchmarks for advanced modalities.
• The data will inform the optimization of radiation dose while maintaining diagnostic efficacy.

Conclusions:

• Understanding radiation dosimetry is essential for the clinical implementation of new breast imaging technologies.
• Comparative dose analysis supports informed decisions regarding the use of BCT and CEM.
• This review provides a foundation for optimizing radiation safety in breast cancer detection.