Author/Authors :
Tucciariello, Raffaele M Medical Physics Unit - St.Chiara University Hospital, Pisa, Italy , Lamastra, Rocco Medical Physics Unit - St.Chiara University Hospital, Pisa, Italy , Barca, Patrizio Department of Medical Physics - St. Orsola-Malpighi University Hospital, Bologna, Italy , Evelina Fantacci, Marine Department of Physics - University of Pisa, Roma, Italy , Traino, Antonio C National Institute for Nuclear Physics (INFN), Pisa Section, taly
Abstract :
Background: In this work a new method for the Mean Glandular Dose
evaluation in digital breast tomosynthesis (DBT) is presented.
Methods: Starting from the experimental-based dosimetric index, 2ABD,
which represents the average absorbed breast dose, the mean glandular dose
MGD2ABD was calculated using a conversion function of glandularity f(G),
obtained through the use of Monte Carlo simulations.
Results: f(G) was computed for a 4.5 cm thick breast: from its value
MGD2ABD for different compressed breast thicknesses and glandularities was
obtained. The comparison between MGD2ABD estimates and the dosimetric
index provided in the current dosimetry protocols, following the Dance's
approach, MGD , showed a good agreement (<10%) for all the analyzed breast Dance
thicknesses and glandularities.
Conclusion: The strength of the proposed method can be considered an
accurate mean glandular dose assessment starting from few and accessible
parameters, reported in the header DICOM of each DBT exam.
