title: Dual-energy contrast-enhanced digital mammography: patient radiation dose estimation using a Monte Carlo code.
abstract: Mammography is a standard procedure that facilitates breast cancer detection. Initial results of contrast-enhanced digital mammography (CEDM) are promising. The purpose of this study is to assess the CEDM radiation dose using a Monte Carlo code. EGSnrc MC code was used to simulate the interaction of photons with matter and estimate the glandular dose (Dg). A voxel female human phantom with a 2-8-cm breast thickness range and a breast glandular composition of 50 % was applied. Dg values ranged between 0.96 and 1.45 mGy (low and high energy). Dg values for a breast thickness of 5.0 cm and a glandular fraction of 50 % for craniocaudal and mediolateral oblique view were 1.12 (low energy image contribution is 0.98 mGy) and 1.07 (low energy image contribution is 0.95 mGy), respectively. The low kV part of CEDM is the main contributor to total glandular breast dose.
authors.affiliation: Medical Physics Department, University of Athens, Athens, Greece.
authors.forename: E
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Yakoumakis
authors.affiliation: Medical Physics Department, University of Athens, Athens, Greece.
authors.forename: E
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Tzamicha
authors.affiliation: Medical Physics Department, University of Athens, Athens, Greece.
authors.forename: A
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Dimitriadis
authors.affiliation: Medical Physics Department, University of Athens, Athens, Greece.
authors.forename: E
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Georgiou
authors.affiliation: Medical Physics Department, Konstantopoulio General Hospital of Nea Ionia, Attiki, Greece virginia@otenet.gr.
authors.forename: V
authors.initials: V
authors.lastname: Tsapaki
authors.affiliation: Radiology Department, Alexandra General Hospital, Athens, Greece.
authors.forename: A
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Chalazonitis
mesh_terms: D015502:Absorptiometry, Photon / Q000379:methods*; D000328:Adult; D000388:Air; D001940:Breast / Q000473:pathology; D003198:Computer Simulation; D003287:Contrast Media; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008327:Mammography / Q000379:methods*; D009010:Monte Carlo Method; D009389:Neovascularization, Pathologic; D019047:Phantoms, Imaging; D011829:Radiation Dosage; D011856:Radiographic Image Enhancement / Q000379:methods*; D011874:Radiometry
chemical_list: D003287:Contrast Media