Abstract
BackgroundRelative to Western women, Korean women show several differences in breast-related characteristics, including higher rates of dense breasts and small breasts. We investigated how mammographic composition and breast size affect the glandular dose during full-field digital mammography (FFDM) in Korean women using a radiation dose management system.MethodsFrom June 1 to June 30, 2015, 2120 FFDM images from 560 patients were acquired and mammographic breast composition and breast size were assessed. We analyzed the correlations of patient age, peak kilovoltage (kVp), current (mAs), compressed breast thickness, compression force, mammographic breast composition, and mammographic breast size with the mean glandular dose (MGD) of the breast using a radiation dose management system. The causes of increased radiation were investigated, among patients with radiation doses above the diagnostic reference level (4th quartile, ≥75%).ResultsThe MGD per view of 2120 images was 1.81 ± 0.70 mGy. In multivariate linear regression analysis, age was negatively associated with MGD (p < 0.05). The mAs, kVp, compressed breast thickness, and mammographic breast size were positively associated with MGD (p < 0.05). The “dense” group had a significantly higher MGD than the “non-dense” group (p < 0.05). Patients with radiation dose values above the diagnostic reference value had large breasts of dense composition.ConclusionsAmong Korean women, patients with large and dense breasts should be more carefully managed to ensure that a constant radiation dose is maintained.
Highlights
Relative to Western women, Korean women show several differences in breast-related characteristics, including higher rates of dense breasts and small breasts
We reviewed the data using our personal computers by accessing the web server of the radiation dose management system
When the 560 patients were stratified according to mammographic breast composition, 183 patients were included in the “nondense” group (32.68%), and 377 patients were included in the “dense” group (67.32%)
Summary
Relative to Western women, Korean women show several differences in breast-related characteristics, including higher rates of dense breasts and small breasts. We investigated how mammographic composition and breast size affect the glandular dose during full-field digital mammography (FFDM) in Korean women using a radiation dose management system. There is growing concern about the risk of radiation exposure [1, 2]. The cancer risk associated with radiation exposure is generally extrapolated from the long-term follow-up of Japanese atomic bomb survivors from. There is a general consensus on the importance of radiation dose management for patient safety. Clinicians are attempting to reduce the radiation dose for patient safety. Several software programs are available to aggregate and analyze data regarding radiation dose management. A radiation dose management system could help radiologists optimize protocols, reduce the radiation dose, and perform quality management
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