Protocol for optimal choice of tube voltage for mam-mography units with molybdenum anode and filter

The purpose of this work is to develop a protocol with recommended values of tube voltage for manual exposure in semiautomatic mode depending on compressed breast thickness and glandular content of the breast. The protocol was developed based on literature data and on our own measurements. The values were tested on one mammography unit for 54 patients with 116 exposures. Mean glandular dose (MGD) per exposure was determined and image quality according European Guidelines on Quality Criteria and the Bulgarian Standard on Medical imaging was estimated. Low values of MGD compared to other mammography units in the country were determined (mean 1.2 mGy and median 1.1 mGy). Image quality according the criteria concerning the exposure parameters was found satisfactory in almost all cases. (authors)