Estimation of Radiation Dose During Mammographic Procedure

Abstract

Mammography is the primary imaging tool used to diagnose breast cancer and examine suspicious lesion tissue. Due to the steady increase in the use of mammograms in recent times, the patients and doctors' concerns about the single dose of radiation and the risks from that ionizing radiation have increased. The aim of this study is to estimate the radiation dose for patients during mammography and to identify the factors affecting the dose. 60 patients were examined using a digital computerized imaging unit in the radiology department under clinically justified conditions in one of the Hospitals in Sudan. According to the protocol used in the department, then two views were made for each patient (CC) and (MLO) after measuring breast thickness and choosing the appropriate exposure factors in each projection automatically, the MGD was extrapolated it is the most sensitive tissue in the breast. In this study, the descriptive and analytical approach was used through the SPSS program and the results showed that, (MGD) (mGy) (1.6822± 0.6681), exposure factors used: two values for (kVp) (25, 26) and two values for (mAs) (50, 130). The results indicate that the radiation dose values in this study did not exceed the value specified by the Food and Drug Administration (3.0) (mGy), also there is a significant correlation between (kVp) (mAs) and (MGD). Low doses indicate that the radiation generators in this unit are able to achieve acceptable levels of dose, But there is a portion of patients whose results are normal, so an accurate justification is required for the examination. Also use two values for (kVp) did not clearly explain the form of the correlation between (kVp) and (MGD), Therefore, several kVp ratings can be tested to explain this relationship.