OPTIMIZING OPTICAL-DENSITY OF A KODAK MAMMOGRAPHY FILM-SCREEN COMBINATION WITH STANDARD-CYCLE PROCESSING

The optimization of optical density in film-screen mammography is cruc ial in attaining good image quality. While a target range for film opt ical density of 1.4-1.8 has been recommended for centres participating in the National Health Service Breast Screening Programme (NHSBSP), p ast investigations have shown that combinations of mammography film an d screen and processor conditions can have various optimum densities, some of which are outside this recommended range. The optimum optical density of the film/screen/processor conditions combination used at ou r institution (the Kodak MIN-RM/MIN-R combination designed for standar d-cycle processing) was evaluated using a breast detail phantom study. It was found that the optimum optical density was 1.25 OD. We recomme nd that an individual institution determines the optimum optical densi ty for the film-screen combination it uses and the processing conditio ns specific to it.