title: Evaluation of exposure in mammography: limitations of average glandular dose and proposal of a new quantity.
abstract: The radiation risk in mammography is traditionally evaluated using the average glandular dose. This quantity for the average breast has proven to be useful for population statistics and to compare exposure techniques and systems. However it is not indicating the individual radiation risk based on the individual glandular amount and distribution. Simulations of exposures were performed for six appropriate virtual phantoms with varying glandular amount and distribution. The individualised average glandular dose (iAGD), i.e. the individual glandular absorbed energy divided by the mass of the gland, and the glandular imparted energy (GIE), i.e. the glandular absorbed energy, were computed. Both quantities were evaluated for their capability to take into account the glandular amount and distribution. As expected, the results have demonstrated that iAGD reflects only the distribution, while GIE reflects both the glandular amount and distribution. Therefore GIE is a good candidate for individual radiation risk assessment.
authors.affiliation: Departement of Radiology, Katholieke Universiteit Leuven, Herestraat 49, Leuven 3000, Belgium Digital Guidance Solutions, GE Healthcare, 283 rue de la Minière, Buc 78530, France Institut Mines-Télécom, Télécom ParisTech, CNRS LTCI, 46 rue Barrault, Paris 75013, France geeraert.nausikaa@gmail.com.
authors.forename: N
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: Geeraert
authors.affiliation: Digital Guidance Solutions, GE Healthcare, 283 rue de la Minière, Buc 78530, France.
authors.forename: R
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Klausz
authors.affiliation: Digital Guidance Solutions, GE Healthcare, 283 rue de la Minière, Buc 78530, France.
authors.forename: S
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Muller
authors.affiliation: Institut Mines-Télécom, Télécom ParisTech, CNRS LTCI, 46 rue Barrault, Paris 75013, France.
authors.forename: I
authors.initials: I
authors.lastname: Bloch
authors.affiliation: Departement of Radiology, Katholieke Universiteit Leuven, Herestraat 49, Leuven 3000, Belgium.
authors.forename: H
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Bosmans
mesh_terms: D000465:Algorithms; D001940:Breast / Q000528:radiation effects*; D003198:Computer Simulation; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008327:Mammography / Q000379:methods* / Q000592:standards; D009010:Monte Carlo Method; D019047:Phantoms, Imaging; D011829:Radiation Dosage; D000069079:Radiation Exposure / Q000517:prevention & control*; D011834:Radiation Monitoring; D011874:Radiometry / Q000379:methods*; D012306:Risk; D018570:Risk Assessment