[Evaluation of radiation doses in mammography]

A dedicated X-ray mammography was introduced to our hospital from 1987 and an imaging receptor of xeroradiography was applied. We reported previously that the average air exposure was 0.79R and that the absorption dose of skin was 1.00 rad. These data are similar to literature reports. Screen-film mammography was introduced recently. To select the best breast imaging and the least radiation exposure, diverse methods were investigated. A dosimetry (Capintec model 192) and a PS-033 parallel ionization chamber were applied to compare the absorption dose on polystyrene phantom between various exposure factors, the application of breast clamp and the size of exposure field. Retrospective estimation of the radiation dose was obtained from the exposure factors of previous mammography since July, 1990 to May, 1992. There were 1035 xeromammographic examinations and 358 examinations with medium-speed screen-film mammography. Another 61 craniocaudal and 96 mediolateral projections with high-speed screen-film mammography were recruited during the recent two months. An ionization chamber (Exradin, Shonka-Wyckoff A5) with an electrometer (Keithley 617) wer selected to obtain the dose equivalent from air exposure between selected exposure factors. The radiation dose of mammography is linearly correlated with voltage/kV and current/mAs. The application of a breast clump reduces 10% of the skin dose. The average exposure factors of xeromammography are 45.6 kV, 163.5 mAs. These results remain the same as in our previous report. Xeromammography has a greater exposure to air, estimated average glandular dose and absorbed dose than screen-film mammography. The mean exposure factor of rapid screen-film mammography gains half the value of medium screen-film mammography, ie. 26.6 kV, 87.0 mAs vs. 26.0 kV, 164.5 mAs.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)