Abstract

In the present investigation, we analyzed the data of 1,318 patients (2,636 images) who underwent mammographic examinations and obtained the distribution of the patient age and compressed breast thickness. We measured also average glandular doses (AGD) as function of compressed breast thickness. In order to obtain the values of AGD, we measured half value layer (HVL) and tube output (mR/mAs) for each kVp and target/filter combination. Entrance surface air kerma (ESAK) was calculated from the tube output as measured for each voltage used under clinical conditions and from the tube loading (mAs). AGD per exposure were calculated by multiplying the ESAK values by the conversion factors tabulated by Dance. We obtained in this study the following conclusions. The mean value of compressed breast thickness for cranio-caudal (CC) view was 35.8mm and that for medio-lateral oblique (MLO) view was 43.3 mm. The mean value of AGD for CC view was 1.55 mGy and that for MLO view was 1.70 mGy. The AGD for MLO view was 0.15 mGy (10%) higher than that for CC view because the thickness for MLO view was on average 4.8 mm higher than that for CC view. The values of AGD increased with increasing compressed brest thickness. The increased AGD value was on average 0.34 mGy per 10 mm in the thickness ranges $10{\sim}80\;mm$, therefore differences between the AGD values of each thickness were relative large. Thus, it is considered to need limited doses for mammography with the upper end of exposure range at several different compressed brest thickness.

본 연구에서는 유방촬영 환자수 1,318명(2,636영상)을 대상으로 수집된 자료를 분석하여 환자의 연령분포와 압박유방두께를 조사하였고, 또한 압박유방두께의 변화에 따른 평균유선선량(AGD)을 측정하여 비교하였다. 다양한 관전압과 target/filter 조합에서 반가층과 출력(mR/mAs)을 측정하여 임상에서 사용되는 관전압에서 측정된 출력에다 mAs를 곱해서 입사표면공기커마(ESAK)를 계산하였다. 평균유선선량은 입사표면공기커마에다 Dance가 구한 변환계수를 곱해서 구했다. 압박유방두께의 평균값은 상하방향(CC) 촬영 시에 35.8 mm, 내외사방향(MLO) 촬영 시에 43.3 mm로 나타났다. 평균유선선량은 CC 촬영에서 1.55 mGy, MLO 촬영에서 1.70 mGy로, 압박유방두께가 CC 촬영 시보다 MLO 촬영 시에 평균 4.8 mm 두껍기 때문에 평균유선선량은 MLO 촬영 시에 0.15 mGy(10%)가 증가되었다. 평균유선선량은 압박유방두께가 두꺼울수록 증가하며, $10{\sim}80\;mm$의 범위에서 압박유방두께가 10 mm 두꺼울수록 평균적으로 0.34 mGy 증가하였다. 따라서 압박유방두께에 따라 평균유선선량의 차이가 비교적 크기 때문에 한 가지 두께보다 몇 단계에서 규정된 최대한계선량으로 유방촬영 시의 환자 피폭선량의 기준으로 삼는 것이 바람직하다.

Keywords

• Patient dose;
• Compressed breast thickness;
• Entrance surface air kerma (ESAK);
• Average glandular dose (AGD)

• 환자 피폭선량;
• 압박유방두께;
• 입사표면공기커마;
• 평균유선선량;