title: Evaluation of absorbed dose in mammography: monte carlo simulation studies.
abstract: Computer programs for calculation of the backscatter factor and absorbed dose in breast phantoms are developed based on Monte Carlo simulation. Rad/roentgen conversion factors are calculated for water, fat, a mixture of 50% water and 50% fat, and lucite irradiated with monoenergetic and polyenergetic x rays from a tungsten or molybdenum anode x-ray tube. These factors can be used to estimate skin dose, average depth dose, or average integral dose in a breast when the beam quality, exposure in air at the skin position, and composition of the breast are known. Calculated backscatter factors are considerably greater than measured values reported previously.
mesh_terms: D001940:Breast / Q000528:radiation effects; D003201:Computers; D005069:Evaluation Studies as Topic; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008327:Mammography; D008954:Models, Biological; D008961:Models, Structural; D009010:Monte Carlo Method; D011829:Radiation Dosage; D012542:Scattering, Radiation; D012867:Skin / Q000528:radiation effects; D014965:X-Rays