QUALITY ASSURANCE AND PATIENT DOSIMETRY IN MAMMOGRAPHY - A RETROSPECTIVE

The study of the breast using mammography commenced at this major canc er centre in the late 1960s. Clinically useful images were first obtai ned using a Xerox system in the early 1970s. The development of qualit y assurance phantoms since this time is described, also research into the evaluation of breast dose and optimisation of the imaging chain. P hysical and biological phantoms were used to evaluate available imagin g configurations, and examples of the parameters investigated-target m aterial, choice of image receptor-are given. A number of Monte Carlo p rograms have been developed to quantify image quality parameters and p atient dose. They have been used to optimise available imaging configu rations for a wide range of breast thicknesses and radiographic parame ters. Examples of studies into dose reduction by the addition of filtr ation, choice of kV(p) and the use of grids are given.