Establishment of regional diagnostic reference levels for digital mammography in Western Province of Sri Lanka.

The radiation dose to the breasts should be kept to a minimum as breast tissues are highly sensitive to radiation. In mammography, the mean glandular dose (MGD) is used to specify the patient dose. In this study, data on the MGD during diagnostic mammographic examinations was collected using the database from six digital mammography facilities available in the Western Province in Sri Lanka. Examinations involving breast pathology, breast implants, or compressed breast thicknesses (CBT) outside the range of 20-110 mm were excluded in this study. The mean MGD per breast was 3.50 mGy, with a mean CBT of 57 mm. The mean MGD per facility varies from 1.58 to 2.27 mGy, with overall 75th and 95th percentiles of 2.15 and 2.82 mGy, respectively. The 75th and 95th percentile MGD per image, for the average CBT of 57 ± 12 mm, were 2.00 and 2.65 mGy respectively. The 75th percentile value of the MGD is suggested for the Western Province and it depends on the specific CBT.

Influence of double layer filter on mean glandular dose (MGD) and image quality in low energy image of contrast enhanced spectral mammography (LE-CESM).

INTRODUCTION: The aim of this study was to evaluate mean glandular dose (MGD) and image quality in low energy imaging from contrast-enhanced spectral mammography (CESM) when using double-layer filtration. METHODOLOGY: A dedicated phantom was used to quantitatively estimate the MGD and image quality. The target slab of the phantom consisted of three iodine coins having a concentration of 1.0 mgI/cm3, 2.0 mgI/cm3, 4.0 mgI/cm3, a 100% adipose equivalent coin and a 100% glandular equivalent coin. The phantom was exposed using a semiautomated function at 28 k, 30 kV and 32 kV. MGD. Contrast to noise ratio (CNR) and figure of merit (FOM) were estimated for Mo/Rh, Mo/Rh + Cu, Mo/Rh + Al and Mo/Rh + Cd combinations using three breast equivalent compositions. RESULTS: MGD was reduced up to a maximum of 1.03 mGy from 1.17 mGy for 100% adipose tissue. 1.18 mGy from 1.34 mGy for 50% glandular tissue and 1.39 mGy from 1.72 mGy for the 100% glandular phantom when using double-layer filtration. All of the above-mentioned results were obtained for the 50 mm phantom using 32 kV. CNR and FOM values were not significantly reduced with a double-layer filter when compared to a single-layer filter. CONCLUSION: The present study concluded that Mo/Rh + Cu is the best combination to reduce the MGD significantly when compared to Mo/Rh + Al or Mo/Rh + Cd. Mo/Rh + Cu also achieved optimal image quality when compared to the Mo/Rh single filter combination. IMPLICATIONS OF PRACTICE: The use of a double-layer filter in low energy imaging of CESM results in a significant reduction in MGD without degrading the quality of the image.