Measurement of depth dose profile for X-rays used in mammography

Mammography is generally accepted as an effective method for early detection of breast cancer. The average absorbed dose to the various tissues comprising breast is most appropriate dosimetric quantity for risk estimation (to minimize the effects of radiation i.e. radiation induced cancer and genetic effects) due to mammography. It can also be helpful in the optimization of the various parameters during diagnosis. As various tissues are situated at different depths, so the depth dose profile can provide important information about the variation of absorbed dose at various depths. In this paper, the depth dose profile is measured for 30 kVp x-rays used in mammography. The measurements are carried out using LiF thermoluminescence (TL) dosimeters and the results are also compared with the ionization chamber