Evaluation of patients radiation dose during mammography imaging procedure

Highlights: • The average glandular dose (AGD) during mammography procedures was evaluated. • The interpatient variation is due to the number of projections per procedure. • Estimated AGD is comparable with previous studies. • Diagnostic reference should base on the patient's age and breast density. This study investigates patients' dose levels during digital mammography procedures and proposes a local diagnostic reference level (DRL). The patient sample is 1055 patients who have been examined at the Riyadh Care Hospital, Riyadh, Saudi Arabia. All procedures were carried out for medically justified clinical conditions. All procedures were carried out using a direct digital mammography (DDR) radiology system. The mean and range of ESAK (mGy) were 5.19 ± 3.18 (0.33–29.9), while the mean AGD (mGy) is 1.3±(1.0–7.2) per procedure. The third quartile value for ESAK (mGy) and AGD (mGy) is 6 and 1.5, respectively. Measured ESAK (mGy) per procedure and estimated AGD are comparable with previous studies. The interpatient and interdepartmental variation is attributed mainly to the number of projections per procedure.