Mammography radiation dose and image quality

The early detection of breast cancer is technologically very challenging for radiography. At present screen-film mammography is the favoured method for early detection of breast cancer. In the United States, screening is under way and a large number of asymptomatic women are bring exposed to radiation for the purpose of detecting early occult cancer. The prognosis for this disease is greatly improved if the cancer can be found before it reaches the size of 1 cm. Because of the widespread use of this imaging technology, much attention has been paid to its optimisation in terms of patient radiation dose, required image quality and quality control. Mammography in the USA is regulated by the Federal Government through mandatory facility certification including annual inspections and a specified quality control programme. However, there is still a wide range of radiation dose delivered to achieve a given film optical density and level of image quality.