Biomaterial Database

Contrast and dose with Mo-Mo, Mo-Rh, and Rh-Rh target-filter combinations in mammography. 1995

E L Gingold, and X Wu, and G T Barnes

Department of Radiology, University of Alabama Hospitals and Clinics, University of Alabama at Birmingham, USA.

OBJECTIVE To study the effect of three mammography target-filter combinations on contrast and dose. METHODS With screen-film sensitometry, the contrast of a calcification target embedded in simulated breast tissue was measured for three target-filter combinations--molybdenum-molybdenum (Mo-Mo), molybdenum rhodium (Mo-Rh), and rhodium-rhodium (Rh-Rh)--as a function of x-ray tube potential, breast thickness, and breast composition. The corresponding average glandular tissue doses were also determined. RESULTS Contrast and dose decreased with increasing kilovolt peak with all three target-filter combinations. Contrast was highest for Mo-Mo and lowest for Rh-Rh for images exposed with a low kilovoltage (< 29 kVp). For thick or radiographically dense phantoms, the contrast produced with Mo-Mo was less than or equal to that produced by the other two x-ray spectra when a higher kilovoltage (> or = 29 kVp) was selected. Average glandular dose was greatest for Mo-Mo and lowest for Rh-Rh for all phantom thicknesses, breast compositions, and tube potentials studied. CONCLUSIONS For the thick or dense breast, the alternative target-filter selections can achieve contrast comparable to or better than that obtainable with Mo-Mo while using a smaller dose.

UI	MeSH Term	Description	Entries
D008327	Mammography	Radiographic examination of the breast.	3D-Mammography,Digital Breast Tomosynthesis,Digital Mammography,X-ray Breast Tomosynthesis,3D Mammography,3D-Mammographies,Breast Tomosyntheses, Digital,Breast Tomosyntheses, X-ray,Breast Tomosynthesis, Digital,Breast Tomosynthesis, X-ray,Digital Breast Tomosyntheses,Digital Mammographies,Mammographies,Mammographies, Digital,Mammography, Digital,X ray Breast Tomosynthesis,X-ray Breast Tomosyntheses
D008961	Models, Structural	A representation, generally small in scale, to show the structure, construction, or appearance of something. (From Random House Unabridged Dictionary, 2d ed)	Model, Structural,Structural Model,Structural Models
D008982	Molybdenum	A metallic element with the atomic symbol Mo, atomic number 42, and atomic weight 95.95. It is an essential trace element, being a component of the enzymes xanthine oxidase, aldehyde oxidase, and nitrate reductase.	Molybdenum-98,Molybdenum 98
D011829	Radiation Dosage	The amount of radiation energy that is deposited in a unit mass of material, such as tissues of plants or animal. In RADIOTHERAPY, radiation dosage is expressed in gray units (Gy). In RADIOLOGIC HEALTH, the dosage is expressed by the product of absorbed dose (Gy) and quality factor (a function of linear energy transfer), and is called radiation dose equivalent in sievert units (Sv).	Sievert Units,Dosage, Radiation,Gray Units,Gy Radiation,Sv Radiation Dose Equivalent,Dosages, Radiation,Radiation Dosages,Units, Gray,Units, Sievert
D001940	Breast	In humans, one of the paired regions in the anterior portion of the THORAX. The breasts consist of the MAMMARY GLANDS, the SKIN, the MUSCLES, the ADIPOSE TISSUE, and the CONNECTIVE TISSUES.	Breasts
D005260	Female		Females
D006801	Humans	Members of the species Homo sapiens.	Homo sapiens,Man (Taxonomy),Human,Man, Modern,Modern Man
D012238	Rhodium	A hard and rare metal of the platinum group, atomic number 45, atomic weight 102.905, symbol Rh.	Rhodium-103,Rhodium 103
D013679	Technology, Radiologic	The application of scientific knowledge or technology to the field of radiology. The applications center mostly around x-ray or radioisotopes for diagnostic and therapeutic purposes but the technological applications of any radiation or radiologic procedure is within the scope of radiologic technology.	Radiologic Technology,Technology, Radiological,Radiological Technology