Radiation dosage to the breast in well-women screening surveys

Abstract

The D.H.S.S. is supporting research in several centres to determine the feasibility of establishing a nationwide Breast Cancer Screening Programme. This paper answers the questions "What is the radiation dose produced by mammography, and is it safe?". In the context of well-women screening surveys a maximum skin dose of 2 R has been recommended. The variation of dose across the breast surface is recorded and the reasons for this enumerated. The lowest mean dose recorded with industrial quality film was 4-9 R, so that such fine-grain film cannot be used for this purpose. Doses within the recommended safety limit are achieved by the use of vacuum-packed film-screen combinations. The new rare-earth phosphor screens produce the lowest dose (0-2 R). There was no significant gonad dose. It is concluded that mammographic examination of well-women can be performed at safe radiation levels.