SU‐E‐I‐60: Use of Monte Carlo‐PENELOPE Method to Determine Radiation Dose to Organs and Tissues From Mammography

Purpose: The principal motivation to the radiographic examination of the breast is the early detection of breast cancer. However, the absorbed dose in other organs and tissues resulting from these examinations has not been well established. A study was performed in order to obtain an estimate of the...

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Bibliographic Details
Published in:	Medical Physics Vol. 40; no. 6; p. 139
Main Authors:	Leidens, M, Goes, E, Nicolluci, P
Format:	Conference Proceeding Journal Article
Language:	English
Published:	American Association of Physicists in Medicine 01-06-2013
Subjects:	Anatomy Cancer Heart Ionizing radiation Lungs Mammography Radiography
Online Access:	Get full text
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Summary:	Purpose: The principal motivation to the radiographic examination of the breast is the early detection of breast cancer. However, the absorbed dose in other organs and tissues resulting from these examinations has not been well established. A study was performed in order to obtain an estimate of the dose absorbed in the lung, heart and red bone marrow resulting from a standard mammogram using Monte Carlo and a phantom. Methods: Monte Carlo‐PENELOPE toolkit, that included an mathematical anthropomorphic phantom, was used to simulate the conditions present in mammography by using screen‐film system. The breast was simulated under compression considering the presence of adipose tissue and cranio‐caudal view. The simulation was carried out using x‐rays of 25 keV. Relative organ dose was calculated considering the ratio of dose to each organ per unit dose to breast. Results: According to the methodology used here, the heart received relative dose of 0.033%. The lung was the organ that received the highest relative dose, 0.14%, while the red bone marrow received the lowest relative dose, 0.0013%. Conclusion: The radiation dose to the organs considered in this study, except the breast, is extremely low. However, our findings may be important in epidemiological studies concerning the use of ionizing radiation.
ISSN:	0094-2405 2473-4209
DOI:	10.1118/1.4814170