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Abstract Introduction Digital mammography present many advantages in comparison to conventional mammography, such as high dynamic range and the post-processing of acquired images. One problem is that protocols may not be optimized, resulting in higher absorbed doses to patients. The objective of this work is to evaluate image quality and to estimate mean glandular doses (MGD) in patients submitted to mammography examinations with three digital systems and one screen-film system in Recife, Brazil. Methods To estimate the MGD, the parameters used to acquire images of 5475 patients, with ages between 40 and 64 years and compressed breasts between 2 and 9 cm, were registered. The MGD was calculated by multiplying the incident air kerma with conversion coefficients depending on the anode/filter, breast glandularity and half-value layer. The image quality evaluation of the digital systems was made using objective and subjective European criteria. Results The results showed MGDs in the range of 0.4-10.3 mGy and the higher values were observed with digital systems. It was also observed that in the digital systems the use of compression force is not adequate and the irradiation parameters are not optimized. The images failed to reproduce the pectoral muscle and the contrast-to-noise ratio was not adequate for one system, indicating the need to improve the patient's positioning and the exposure parameters. Conclusion It can be concluded that the use of non-optimized irradiation parameters is causing the higher doses with digital systems, highlighting the insufficient compression force.
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The primary objective of this study was to measure the mean glandular dose (MGD) from craniocaudal (CC) and mediolateral oblique (MLO) views from mammography patients in Hamad Medical Corporation (HMC) in the state of Qatar and to compare them with the international guidelines levels as well as to establish Dose Reference Level (DRL) for the country by applying the quality control (QC) protocol for the Digital mammography units and to reduce the patient dose and improve the image quality. All patients data was taken from two Selenia digital mammography units for 18 months period. Quality control was implemented for the two mammography machines and corrective actions have been done for the image quality evaluation with rejected film analysis. The total number of collected patient data was 4085 mammography exams which considered as around 93% of the overall mammography procedures done in Qatar during that period. Based on the IAEA selection criteria of breast thickness between 2-7 cm and kV machine value from 26 to 33 kV, only 3280 mammography procedures satisfies the above criteria and are analysed accordingly, National Centre for Cancer Care & Research (NCCCR) 949 and Hamad General Hospital (HGH) 2331 exposures. The present study revealed that there were significant differences between the MGD values for the CC and MLO views (p <0.006). Referring to the limiting dose values in the European guidelines, the results from the two mammography units showed that 94.5% and 99.7% of the mean glandular doses are acceptable from NCCCR and HGH respectively. Due to compression devise error in the NCCCR mammography machine, the MGD for some patients became more than the acceptable values especially at small breast thickness values (0-3 cm) which it seems 0% in the acceptable range.
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Objetivo: Avaliar a dose glandular média utilizando um detector de estado sólido e a qualidade da imagem de um sistema de radiografia direta a partir de objetos simuladores. Materiais e Métodos: Irradiações foram realizadas utilizando o controle automático de exposição e placas de polimetilmetacrilato com diferentes espessuras para o cálculo da dose glandular média. A qualidade da imagem foi avaliada por meio das estruturas visualizadas nas imagens dos objetos simuladores. Resultados: Considerando a incerteza das medições, os resultados de dose glandular média estão de acordo com os valores fornecidos pelo equipamento e com os níveis de referência adotados internacionalmente. Os resultados obtidos a partir das imagens dos objetos simuladores estavam em conformidade com os valores de referência. Conclusão: Este trabalho contribui para verificar a conformidade do equipamento em relação a dose e qualidade da imagem. .
Objective: To evaluate the mean glandular dose with a solid state detector and the image quality in a direct radiography system, utilizing phantoms. Materials and Methods: Irradiations were performed with automatic exposure control and polymethyl methacrylate slabs with different thicknesses to calculate glandular dose values. The image quality was evaluated by means of the structures visualized on the images of the phantoms. Results: Considering the uncertainty of the measurements, the mean glandular dose results are in agreement with the values provided by the equipment and with internationally adopted reference levels. Results obtained from images of the phantoms were in agreement with the reference values. Conclusion: The present study contributes to verify the equipment conformity as regards dose values and image quality. .
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Background: Different target-filter combinations in computed radiography have different impacts on the dose and image quality in digital radiography. This study aims to evaluate the mean glandular dose (MGD) and modulation transfer function (MTF) of various target-filter combinations by investigating the signal intensities of X-ray beams. Methods: General Electric (GE) Senographe DMR Plus mammography unit was used for MGD and MTF evaluation. The measured MGD was compared with the dose reference level (DRL), whereas the MTF was evaluated using ImageJ 1.46o software. A modified Mammography Accreditation Phantom RMI 156 was exposed using different target-filter combinations of molybdenum-molybdenum (Mo-Mo), molybdenum-rhodium (Mo-Rh) and rhodium-rhodium (Rh-Rh) at two different tube voltages, 26 kV and 32 kV with 50 mAs. Results: In the MGD evaluations, all target-filters gave an MGD value of 0.05). Conclusions: Higher tube voltage and atomic number target-filter yield higher MGD values. However, the MTF is independent of the X-ray energy and the type of target-filter combinations used.
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Mamografia , RadiografiaRESUMO
We present the application of a numerical model to estimate the mean glandular dose for mammography. A General Electric mammography system, tube voltaje of 20-35 kV with increments of 1 kV, tube current of 10-250 mAs, anode/filter combinations molybdenum/molybdenum was used. Over a period of two months, data from 162 scans with craniocaudal and mediolateral oblique projections in both breasts were recorded. The thickness of the compressed breast ranged from 2.5 to 6.5 cm. The mean glandular dose for each craniocaudal projection ranged from 0.4 to 0.7 mGy for a thickness of 2.5 cm and 1.9 to 2.8 mGy for a thickness of 6.5 cm. All average values of mean glandular dose estimated by cranio-caudal projection were found to be below the international reference dose value of 3 mGy recommended by the American College of Radiology.
Presentamos la aplicación de un modelo numérico para estimar la dosis glandular promedio en mamografía. Hemos utilizado un mamógrafo General Electric, tensión del tubo: 20-35 kV con incrementos de 1 kV; carga del tubo: 10-250 mAs; combinación ánodo-filtro de Molibdeno-Molibdeno. Durante dos meses datos de 162 exploraciones con proyecciones cráneo-caudal y medio lateral oblicua en ambas mamas. El espesor de mama comprimida se encuentra en el rango de 2,5 a 6,5 cm. Los rangos de dosis glandular promedio, por cada proyección cráneo-caudal, se encuentran de 0,4 a 0,7 mGy para un espesor de 2,5 cm y de 1,9 a 2,8 mGy para un espesor de 6,5 cm. Los valores medios de dosis glandular promedio estimados por proyección cráneo-caudal, en su totalidad resultan por debajo del valor de referencia dado por el Colegio Americano de Radiología (3 mGy).