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Table 6 Recommended tests for dosimetry in mammography: technical aspects, dose estimation conversion factors and reference dose per projection

From: Quality assurance and quality control in mammography: a review of available guidance worldwide

 

Dosimetry

Dose

Protocol ID

Technical (with test objects/phantom)

Clinical (with patient data)

Test equipment (dosimeters)

Quantities and units

AGD estimation

Conversion factors

Reference dose per projection

Nordic

Standard breast model 45 mm PMMA equivalent to average breast (50 % adipose + 50 % glandular)

NA

IC

ESAK (mGy) and AGD or MGD (mGy)

AGD = ESD × conversion factors

Rosenstein (1985)

≤0.8 mGy without grid

≤2 with grid (OD = 1)

EP

Standard breast model 45 ± 5 mm PMMA

10 patients with a compressed breast thickness between 40 to 60 mm for dose measurements on patients with TLD

TLD or other dosimeter with a dynamic range 0.5–100 mGy

ESD (mGy), ESAK (mGy) and AGD or MGD (mGy

AGD = ESAK × gPB

Dance (1990)

2.3 mGy for a standard phantom

ACR

(1) Blocks of PMMA (20, 40, 60 and 80 mm)

NA

IC

Entrance Exposure estimated from technical factors recorded and tube output (mR/mAs) and MGD (mGy)

estimated for various thickness

Dance (1990); Wu (1991) and Sobol (1997)

≤3 mGy (42 mm compressed breast thickness)

(2) Standard breast Model 40-mm PMMA equivalent to 42 mm 50/50 mixture

IPEM

(1) Blocks of PMMA (20-80 mm)

AGD for a series of breast examinations on each mammography system periodically. Data collection: breast thickness; kVp; mAs. Accuracy: ±2 mm

IC and electrometer

ESAK(K), AGD or MGD (mGy)

D = Kgcs

Dance (2000) for two age ranges 40–49 and 50-64

2 mGy (40 mm compressed breast thickness)

(2) Standard breast model 45-mm PMMA, equivalent breast thickness 55 mm with 30 % glandularity

EC

(1) Blocks of PMMA (20-80 mm)

AGD for a series of breast examinations on each mammography system. Data collection: breast thickness; kVp; mAs. Accuracy: ±2 mm

ESAK(K); AGD or MGD (mGy)

D = Kgcs

Dance (2000) for two age ranges 40–49 and 50-64

2.5 mGy for 45 mm

(2) Standard breast model 45-mm PMMA, equivalent breast thickness 53 mm

PQDCS

(1) Standard breast model 40-mm PMMA, equivalent to 42 mm 50/50 mixture

NA

IC and electrometer

Entrance Surface Dose (ESD) (mR); AGD or MGD (mrad/R)

AGD = ESD × conversion factors

Stanton (1984); Wu (1991, 1994)

≤3 mGy for breast thickness of 42 mm

IAEA-D

45-mm thick PMMA phantom equivalent to ‘standard’ breast of thickness 50 mm and glandularity 50 %

A range of 10–50 patients. Reference requires that the compressed breast is between 40 and 60 mm thick, with a mean value of 50 ± 5 mm

IC or semiconductor Dosimeter or TLD

Incident air kerma, (mGy); Entrance surface air kerma (mGy); AGD or MGD (mGy)

DG = CDG50,Ki,PMMA sKi (standard breast)

Dance (2000)

DG = cDG50,Ki. cDg,DG50.sKi (patient studies)

BC NBSP

Blocks of PMMA (20–70 mm)

Based on IPSM89 (2005) and the European Protocol in Dosimetry in Mammography (1996)

IPSM89 (2005) and the European Protocol in Dosimetry in Mammography (1996)

ESAK(K); AGD or MGD (mGy)

D = Kgcs

Dance (2000) for two age ranges 40–49 and 50–64

2.5 mGy for 45 mm

NQMCBSA

Standard phantom 42 mm 50 % adipose, 50 % glandular breast (i.e. ACR accreditation phantom)

≤2.0 mGy for exposures made using typical clinical settings

NHSBSP

(1) Blocks of PMMA (20–70 mm)

50 patients recommended with a compressed breast thickness of 55 ± 5 mm; 10 patients should be included in the dose sample

ESAK(K); AGD or MGD (mGy)

D = Kgcs

Dance (2000)

1 mGy for 20 mm PMMA;

(2) Standard breast model 45-mm PMMA, equivalent breast thickness 53 mm

2.5 mGy for 45 mm PMMA;

6.5 mGy for 70 mm PMMA

IAEA-SF

Standard breast model 45-mm PMMA, equivalent breast thickness 53 mm

NA

IC

ESAK(K); AGD or MGD (mGy)

D = Kgcs

Dance (2000)

Achievable: 2.0 mGy;

Acceptable: 2.5 mGy

IAEA-DM

Blocks of PMMA (20, 45, 70 mm)

NA

Calibrated detector at appropriated mammographic energies

Incident air kerma; AGD or MGD (mGy)

D = Kgcs

Dance (2000)

1 mGy for 20 mm PMMA; 2.5

mGy for 45 mm PMMA; 6.5

mGy for 70 mm PMMA

  1. NA not applicable, not available/not accessible
  2. g Mo/Mo is the conversion factor of incident air KERMA (K) to MGD for Mo/0.030 mm Mo at 28 kVp, c is a factor that corrects for glandularity different from 50 % and s corrects for any anode/filter material combination, other than the Mo/Mo at 28 kVp only. cDG50,Ki,PMMA is the conversion coefficient to calculate the MGD for a 50 mm standard 50 % glandular breast from the air kerma for a 45 mm PMMA phantom. The coefficient cDGg,DG50 converts MGD for a 50 % glandular breast to the MGD for a breast of glandularity, g, and of the same thickness