Re: Typical patient mammography exposure?

["Sandy Perle" <sandyfl@earthlink.net>]

In response to my request for mammography dose/exposure 
information, I have received quite a bit of assistance (as usual). In 
summary, the following reply is typical of all the replies:

> the median value for mean glandular dose was 146 mrads.  This 
> would be for a cranio-caudal view for an average size patient with 
> 4.5 cm compressed breast thickness and 50% glandular tissue.  
> The 85th percentile for mean glandular dose was 175 mrads.

> The dose can be converted to an effective dose by multiplying the 
> mean glandular dose by the ICRP weighting factor for breast of > 
0.05.

There is an excellent website maintained by the:

Radiation Safety Section
Michigan Department of Consumer & Industry Services
Web site: www.cis.state.mi.us/bhs/hfs/rss

Thank you to all who provided me the requested information.



------------------
Sandy Perle
Technical Director
ICN Dosimetry Division
ICN Plaza
3300 Hyland Avenue
Costa Mesa, CA 92626
Office: (800) 548-5100 x2306 
Fax:    (714) 668-3149
  
sandyfl@earthlink.net
sperle@icnpharm.com

ICN Dosimetry Website:
http://www.dosimetry.com

Personal Website:
http://www.geocities.com/CapeCanaveral/1205

"The object of opening the mind, as of opening 
the mouth, is to close it again on something solid"
              - G. K. Chesterton -

The opinions expressed are solely, absolutely, positively, definitely those of the author, and NOT my employer
************************************************************************
The RADSAFE Frequently Asked Questions list, archives and subscription
information can be accessed at http://www.ehs.uiuc.edu/~rad/radsafe.html