Mean glandular dose estimation using MCNPX for a digital breast tomosynthesis system with tungsten/aluminum and tungsten/aluminum+silver x-ray anode-filter combinations

Journal Article · Mon Dec 15 04:00:00 EST 2008 · Medical Physics

DOI:https://doi.org/10.1118/1.3002310· OSTI ID:22095270

Ma, Andy K. W.; Darambara, Dimitra G.; Stewart, Alexander; Gunn, Spencer; Bullard, Edward ^[1]

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1. Joint Department of Physics, Institute of Cancer Research and The Royal Marsden Hospital, Fulham Road, London SW3 6JJ (United Kingdom)

Breast cancer screening with x-ray mammography, using one or two projection images of the breast, is an indispensible tool in the early detection of breast cancer in women. Digital breast tomosynthesis (DBT) is a 3D imaging technique that promises higher sensitivity and specificity in breast cancer screening at a similar radiation dose to conventional two-view screening mammography. In DBT a 3D volume is reconstructed with anisotropic voxels from a limited number of x-ray projection images acquired over a limited angle. Although the benefit of early cancer detection through screening mammography outweighs the potential risks associated with radiation, the radiation dosage to women in terms of mean glandular dose (MGD) is carefully monitored. This work studies the MGD arising from a prototype DBT system under various parameters. Two anode/filter combinations (W/Al and W/Al+Ag) were investigated; the tube potential ranges from 20 to 50 kVp; and the breast size varied between 4 and 10 cm chest wall-to-nipple distance and between 3 and 7 cm compressed breast thickness. The dosimetric effect of breast positioning with respect to the imaging detector was also reviewed. It was found that the position of the breast can affect the MGD by as much as 5% to 13% depending on the breast size.

• OSTI ID: 22095270
• Journal Information: Medical Physics, Journal Name: Medical Physics Journal Issue: 12 Vol. 35; ISSN 0094-2405; ISSN MPHYA6
• Country of Publication: United States
• Language: English

Related Subjects

62 RADIOLOGY AND NUCLEAR MEDICINE
ALUMINIUM
ANODES
BIOMEDICAL RADIOGRAPHY
COMPUTERIZED TOMOGRAPHY
DOSIMETRY
FILTERS
IMAGE PROCESSING
IMAGES
MAMMARY GLANDS
MONTE CARLO METHOD
NEOPLASMS
POSITIONING
RADIATION DOSES
SCREENING
SILVER
TUNGSTEN
X RADIATION