1. RAD 254 Chapter 19 Mammography
Also known as soft tissue radiography
Breast CA is the 2nd leading cause of cancer related death in women (lung CA is first)
1 in every 8 women will get breast CA

2. Two types of Mammo Screening – for asymptomatic patients
Diagnostic – for symptomatic or elevated risk patients
Baseline Mammo is the first mammo done and is usually done prior to the age of 40

3. Risk factors for Breast CA
Age – the older the higher risk
Family history – mom/sister with breast CA
Genetics – presence of BRCA1/2 genes
Menstruation – onset prior to age 12
Menopause – after age 55
Late childbirth age or no kids
Education – higher ed = higher risk
Socioeconomics = higher risk with higher status

4. Breast anatomy all similar atomic mass density
Fibrous
Glandular – most radiosensitive breast tissue
Adipose – less dense and less dose
If a malignancy is present, it usually presents as a distortion of ductal and connective tissue patterns.
80% is ductal and many have microcalcifications

5. Imaging breast tissues
Low kVps – kVp
Target material is tungsten (W), molybdenum (Mo) or rhodium (Rh)
Filter material is dictated by target material
Beryllium or borosilicate
If tungsten target – then molybdenum or rhodium filter
Inherent filtration is approx. 0.1 mm Al equiv.
Focal spot sizes (large/small)

6. Other mammo info
Heel effect is always used (chest wall at cathode side of tube)
Compression always used : increased spatial resolution, lower patient dose and focal spot blur
Grids are usually 4:1 or 5:1 FOCUSED
AEC’s require reproducible images at low dose kVp’s of +/- 0.1 OD

7. Mammo Image Receptors
Historically there have been many receptors used (direct-exposure, xeroradiography, screen-film and digital receptors)
Current are only screen-film and digital receptors in this country
Digital’s advantage is post image acquisition Processing; disadvantage is spatial resolution limitations (pixel size of receptor)