Estimation of cancer risks during mammography procedure in Saudi Arabia

Abstract

The aims of the present work were to quantify radiation doses arises from patients' exposure in mammographic X-ray imaging procedures and to estimate the radiation induced cancer risk. Sixty patients were evaluated using a calibrated digital mammography unit at King Khaled Hospital and Prince Sultan Center, Alkharj, Saudi Arabia. The average patient age (years) was 44.4 ± 10 (26–69). The average and range of exposure parameters were 29.1 ± 1.9 (24.0–33.0) and 78.4 ± 17.5 (28.0–173.0) for X-ray tube potential (kVp) and current multiplied by the exposure time (s) (mAs), respectively. The MGD (mGy) per single projection for craniocaudal (CC), Medio lateral oblique (MLO) and lateromedial (LM) was 1.02 ± 0.2 (0.4–1.8), 1.1 ± 0.3 (0.5–1.8), 1.1 ± 0.3 (0.5–1.9) per procedure, in that order. The average cancer risk per projection is 177 per million procedures. The cancer risk is significant during multiple image acquisition. The study revealed that 80% of the procedures with normal findings. However, precise justification is required especially for young patients.

The Effect of Breast Size and Density in Turkish Women on Radiation Dose in Full-Field Digital Mammography

“…In our study, MGD per projection was 1.75 ± 0.64 mGy for CC images and 2.61 ± 0.71 mGy for MLO images, with a total MGD of 4.36 ± 1.2 mGy for a single breast. In a similar study on Saudi women, the MGD for single breasts was 1.02 ± 0.2 mGy (0.4-1.8) for CC projections and 1.1 ± 0.3 mGy (0.5-1.8) for MLO projections, for a total of 2.12 mGy per breast (16). In a similar study on Korean women, Baek et al (17) reported a total MGD for a single breast at two-projection mammograms of 3.62 mGy and an average effective dose of 0.43 mSv.…”

Comparison of Mean Glandular Dose between Full-Field Digital Mammography and Digital Breast Tomosynthesis

“…The dose factor values are auto-regulated according to the breast thickness. The mean value presented in this study is based on the following equation [ 15 , 16 , 17 ]: MGDT = ESAKT × g × c × s where T is the conversion factor (mGy/R or mrad/R), g is the conversion factor for 50% glandular breast based on the thickness and HVL, c is the correction factor based on non-standard glandular breast/thickness and s is the correction factor based on non-molybdenum anode/filter combination.…”

Radiation doses and potential cancer risks during mammography procedures at southern Saudi Arabia

“…Generally, the amount of radiation absorbed by the breast tissues and the related health risks are estimated using the mean glandular dose (MGD) (20) . The MGD can be measured directly using mammographic phantom and thermoluminescent dosimeters (19) .…”

“…The MGD can be measured directly using mammographic phantom and thermoluminescent dosimeters (19) . Also, it can be calculated indirectly from the entrance surface air Kerma (ESAK) and the conversion coefficient derived from Monte Carlo simulations (13,20) . Different conversion coefficients, reported in previous studies (17,21) , can be used to extrapolated MGD values.…”

“…Likewise, affected women can be exposed either due to diagnosis or treatment to multiple radiation doses. Hence, this may also significantly increase the risk of radiation to some sensitive organs or tissues (20,25) . As reported in a previous study, the delivery of ten mGy to a female, under the age of 55 years, can notably increase the risk of induction of breast cancer for up to 14% (26) .…”