12.09.2011

Breast-Mammogram Detector Mismatch Results in Excess Radiation

By: PATRICE WENDLING, Family Practice News Digital Network

CHICAGO – A mismatch between breast size and detector size during mammography resulted in significantly higher doses of radiation for women with large breasts in a study of 886 patients.

On average, women with large breasts screened on a small detector received almost 5 milligray (mGy) of radiation, which exceeds the American College of Radiology guidelines of 3-4 mGy or less for a standard two-view mammogram.

Women with large breasts screened on a small detector received an average of almost 5 mGy of radiation, which exceeds guidelines of 3-4 mGy or less for a standard two-view mammogram.

When a mismatch occurs, women with large breasts receive significantly higher doses of radiation than women with small breasts or their counterparts with large breasts correctly matched to a large detector, Dr. Cathy Wells said when presenting the award-winning study at the annual meeting of the Radiological Society of North America.

"Women with large breasts should be imaged with a large detector to avoid an unnecessary increase in radiation dose," she urged.

source: Family Practice News

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