A study on the usefulness of breast shielding apron for reducing exposure dose in mammography

Mammography, conducted every two years, causes cancer due to regular exposure to radiation while reducing rate of death caused by breast cancer. The study evaluates the effect of breast shielding apron made to shield off scattered radiation that occurs to the breast when the opposite side breast is mammogramed. AGD was measured using ACR phantom, composed of 50% mammary glands and 50% fat, and radiation was measured before and after wearing the apron on the breast when the opposite side of the breast is mammogramed. When CC direction mammography was conducted to a breast, the AGD was 1.84 mGy. When CC direction and MLO direction mammography were done to a breast, the average dose detected from the opposite side breast from four directions(top to bottom and medial to lateral) was 140 μGy with maximum dose of 256 μGy at medial side. After putting on the apron, the dose, caused by scattered radiation, was not detected from any of the four directions. Using of breast shielding apron is expected to minimize the radiation exposure by blocking scattered radiation to the breast shielded, when mammography is done to the opposite side breast