title: Evaluation of the spectral response of the Wisconsin Mammographic kVp Cassettes.
abstract: The spectral response of several Wisconsin Mammographic kVp cassettes was measured under various diagnostic conditions. The response for both unfiltered and externally filtered x-ray beams from tungsten and molybdenum target tubes with different tube voltage ripple was studied for single phase x-ray units. The response for a three phase generator with a molybdenum target tube was also measured. The maximum difference between these experimental response curves and the manufacturer's cassette calibration curve was 3.5 kVp for cassettes with Cu + Al step wedges and 6.0 kVp for cassettes with Cu + Ni step wedges under these widely different spectral conditions. The average difference between the experimental results and the manufacturer's calibration was +2 kVp for Cu + Al step wedge cassettes and +/- 3.5 kVp for Cu + Ni cassettes. kVp measurements were made with an NBS calibrated voltage divider.
mesh_terms: D001943:Breast Neoplasms / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging*; D008327:Mammography / Q000295:instrumentation*; D013679:Technology, Radiologic