Mammographic oblique views 45° versus 60° : breast thickness, breast exposure and image quality

english

2003

volume 37, issue 1

breast   Breast Diseases   diagnostika   Film Dosimetry   Mammography   Radiation Dosage   Radiation Monitoring   Thermoluminescent Dosimetry

Društvo radiologije in onkologije
(Obvezni izvod spletne publikacije)

Background. Standard screening mammography includes two views: craniocaudal and mediolateral oblique. In the mediolateral oblique projection a central beam angle can varies between 30° and 60°. Patients and methods. We compare the thickness of the compressed breast, time-current product, exposures and image quality in two different mammographic oblique views: 45° versus 60°. Ourstudy population consisted of 33 women in whom additional 60° films after standard 45° films were obtained for the objective diagnostic reasons. Results. The mean thickness of the compressed breast was significantly lower with an angle of 60° than with an angle of 45° (47.8 vs. 50.7 mm, p<0.01); themean time current product and the mean breast exposure were significantly lower with an angle of 60° than with an angle of 45° (42.6 vs. 46.7 mAs, p<0.01; 0.67 vs. 0.78 mGy, p<0,01). The difference in the image quality has not reached statisticaI significance (but it exists!). Conclusions. By introducing 60° films instead of commonly used 45° films, mammograms of at least the same quality can be obtained with lower radiation dose, which is of great importance when we remind the great radiosensitivity of glandular breasttissue.

16.09.2009