Air kerma and absorbed dose on the torso of a patient during a mammography study

Two dosimetric magnitudes, due to the dispersed radiation, have been determined during a mammography study. The magnitudes that were determined are the kerma at the entrance of the torso and the absorbed dose by the torso. This determination was made in a paraffin phantom and with thermoluminescent dosemeters. One of the important parameters in the radiological protection of a patient to which is practiced a mammography is the value of the media glandular dose. However, during the taking of the X-ray a radiation portion that impacts on the mammary gland it is dispersed toward the patient's torso. In this work thermoluminescent dosemeters of ZrO2 has been used to determine the kerma at the entrance of the torso like the absorbed dose. The dosemeters was placed on the surface of the torso phantom while to the mamma phantom was made the mammography. As mamma phantom was used glucose serum to 5%. Of the obtained results we find that 3% of the air kerma at the entrance of the mamma it corresponds at the air kerma that receives the torso and 3.2% of the media glandular dose it is the absorbed dose of the same one. Another important result is the percentage value of the air kerma on the entrance of the thyroid area during a mammography, due to the dispersed radiation, it is 4% of the kerma at the entrance of the mamma. The air kerma at the entrance of the thyroid is of 0.41 ±0.07 mGy, 10% of this value corresponds to the absorbed dose by the thyroid. Therefore, it is observed that the media glandular dose and the air kerma at the entrance of the mamma they influence on the dispersed radiation toward the torso. Also, the superior part of the torso has less attenuation capacity to the dispersed radiation that those located in the inferior part. Therefore, the thyroid receives the major quantity of air kerma at the entrance. (Author)