Short communication: a comparison of fine and medium screens for mammography

Intensifying screens for mammography may be categorized as fine, giving priority to image quality, or medium, achieving a lower dose at the expense of some image quality. It is important to be aware of the possible consequences of changing from a fine to a medium screen. The relative image quality and dose of four film-screen combinations (Fuji MIMA/UMMA film with Fuji HR Mammo Fine and HR Mammo Medium screens, Kodak MinRE film with Kodak MinR and MinR Medium screens) were evaluated using Leeds TOR(MAM) and Ackermann test objects. In each case, the performance of the medium screen was compared with that of the fine screen from the same manufacturer; it was not the purpose of this study to compare one manufacturer's products with the other's. Both medium screens showed measurably poorer image quality than the corresponding fine screens. The reduction in dose was only 30-40%. Careful evaluation of other dose reduction methods is recommended before changing from fine to medium screens.