Abstract
Estimating the average glandular dose (AGD) from a mammographic exam is essential for assessing radiation-induced cancer risk. In this study, we propose Mdec-Toki Monte Carlo Method with the aim of visualizing the dose distribution of the entire breast under different arbitrary glandularities, compressed thicknesses, and exposure parameters and evaluating the absorbed dose at an arbitrary point. A phantom with 50% glandularity values was used for the optically stimulated luminescence (OSL) dosimeters measurements to obtain the percentage depth dose PDD from the incident surface to the emission surface. Using the Mdec-Toki method under the same settings as those used for actual measurements and PDD was used to calculate the AGD. The PDD and AGD at an arbitrary point, obtained from Mdec-Toki method simulations and the actual measurements using OSL were similar. The proposed method may be adapted to individual patients and can support radiation safety management during mammography.
Highlights
IntroductionMammograms are routine examinations for women aged 40 and above which require radiological protection to avoid undesired consequences [1, 2]
The proposed method may be adapted to individual patients and can support radiation safety management during mammography
The Dance method calculates the average glandular dose (AGD) by multiplying the factor related to the half-value layer, target/filter combination of the incident X-ray flux, and the factor corresponding to 50% glandularity with poly phantoms, with thickness given as a parameter
Summary
Mammograms are routine examinations for women aged 40 and above which require radiological protection to avoid undesired consequences [1, 2]. Instead, it should be evaluated by considering the average glandular dose (AGD), which corresponds to the radiation absorbed by mammary tissue, including the subcutaneous stromal tissue (predominantly adipose tissue) [5, 6]. The Dance method calculates the AGD by multiplying the factor related to the half-value layer, target/filter combination of the incident X-ray flux, and the factor corresponding to 50% glandularity with poly (methyl methacrylate; PMMA) phantoms, with thickness (i.e., equivalent compressed breast thickness) given as a parameter. For digital breast tomosynthesis (DBT), factors related to the scanning angle of the X-ray tube and the air kerma measured on its incident surface are multiplied by the abovementioned factors to determine the AGD [10]. The radiation absorbed by mammary gland tissue should be determined for dose management to estimate the carcinogenic risk
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