title: Monte Carlo derivation of filtered tungsten anode X-ray spectra for dose computation in digital mammography.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  Derive filtered tungsten X-ray spectra used in digital mammography systems by means of Monte Carlo simulations.
  
  
  METHODS
  Filtered spectra for rhodium filter were obtained for tube potentials between 26 and 32 kV. The half-value layer (HVL) of simulated filtered spectra were compared with those obtained experimentally with a solid state detector Unfors model 8202031-H Xi R/F & MAM Detector Platinum and 8201023-C Xi Base unit Platinum Plus w mAs in a Hologic Selenia Dimensions system using a direct radiography mode.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Calculated HVL values showed good agreement as compared with those obtained experimentally. The greatest relative difference between the Monte Carlo calculated HVL values and experimental HVL values was 4%.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  The results show that the filtered tungsten anode X-ray spectra and the EGSnrc Monte Carlo code can be used for mean glandular dose determination in mammography.
authors.affiliation: M.Sc., Post-graduation in Science and Technology of Radiations, Minerals and Materials - Centro de Desenvolvimento da Tecnologia Nuclear / Comissão Nacional de Energia Nuclear (CDTN/CNEN), Belo Horizonte, MG, Brazil.
authors.forename: Lucas
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Paixão
authors.affiliation: M.Sc., Post-graduation in Science and Technology of Radiations, Minerals and Materials - Centro de Desenvolvimento da Tecnologia Nuclear / Comissão Nacional de Energia Nuclear (CDTN/CNEN), Belo Horizonte, MG, Brazil.
authors.forename: Bruno Beraldo
authors.initials: BB
authors.lastname: Oliveira
authors.affiliation: M.Sc., Post-graduation in Nuclear Sciences and Techniques - Departamento de Engenharia Nuclear da Universidade Federal de Minas Gerais (DEN-UFMG), Belo Horizonte, MG, Brazil.
authors.forename: Carolina
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Viloria
authors.affiliation: M.Sc., Professor, Department of Anatomy and Imaging, Universidade Federal de Minas Gerais (UFMG), Belo Horizonte, MG, Brazil.
authors.forename: Marcio Alves
authors.initials: MA
authors.lastname: de Oliveira
authors.affiliation: MD, Radiologist, Technical Director, Clínica Dra. Maria Helena Araújo Teixeira, Belo Horizonte, MG, Brazil.
authors.forename: Maria Helena Araújo
authors.initials: MH
authors.lastname: Teixeira
authors.affiliation: D.Sc., Titular Researcher-Professor, Centro de Desenvolvimento da Tecnologia Nuclear / Comissão Nacional de Energia Nuclear (CDTN/CNEN), Departamento de Engenharia Nuclear da Universidade Federal de Minas Gerais (DEN-UFMG), Belo Horizonte, MG, Brazil.
authors.forename: Maria do Socorro
authors.initials: Mdo S
authors.lastname: Nogueira
keywords: HVL; Mammography; Monte Carlo; X-ray spectra
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