Patient-Specific Normalized Glandular Dose Range Estimate For Mammography

Area of Science:

• Medical Physics
• Radiology
• Oncology

Background:

• Breast cancer screening mammography is crucial for early detection and mortality reduction.
• Current dose estimation methods use simplified breast models, neglecting tissue heterogeneity.
• This can lead to inaccurate normalized glandular dose (DgN) estimates.

Purpose of the Study:

• To investigate the impact of fibroglandular tissue distribution on mammographic dose.
• To propose a patient-specific framework for estimating normalized glandular dose (DgN) range.
• To enable more personalized and transparent mammographic dose assessment.

Main Methods:

• Monte Carlo simulations to assess DgN variations based on fibroglandular tissue placement.
• Development of a patient-specific framework using mammographic projections and glandular fraction (GF) maps.
• Siddon ray-tracing back projection for volumetric reconstruction and dose calculation.

Main Results:

• Fibroglandular tissue distribution significantly impacts DgN, with variations up to a factor of three.
• Patient-specific framework successfully estimated DgN ranges from single mammographic projections.
• Reconstructed volumes showed dose minimization/maximization based on tissue placement.

Conclusions:

• Realistic bounds on patient dose can be derived from limited mammographic imaging data.
• The proposed framework supports personalized mammographic dose assessment.
• Accounting for tissue heterogeneity enhances the accuracy and transparency of screening mammography.