Loveland J, Mackenzie A. Radiation doses received in the UK breast screening programmes 2019-2023.
Br J Radiol 2024;
97:787-793. [PMID:
38291906 PMCID:
PMC11027334 DOI:
10.1093/bjr/tqad039]
[Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/06/2023] [Revised: 11/05/2023] [Accepted: 11/20/2023] [Indexed: 02/01/2024] Open
Abstract
OBJECTIVE
To report the latest UK mammography dose survey results and to compare radiation doses from digital breast tomosynthesis (DBT) and full-field digital mammography (FFDM) in UK breast screening.
METHODS
Anonymized exposure factors were collected for 111 152 screening cases and 5113 assessment cases from 405 x-ray sets across the United Kingdom using an online submission system linked to a national database of mammography quality control data. Output and beam quality measurements from each set were combined with exposure data to estimate mean glandular doses (MGD).
RESULTS
FFDM doses increased by ∼10% compared to the 2016-2019 national survey but compressed breast thicknesses (CBT) remained similar. DBT doses were 34%-40% higher than FFDM overall and 34% higher than FFDM for breasts 50-60 mm thick. We found a possible overestimation of PMMA breast equivalent thicknesses at low CBTs, but the evidence was not conclusive.
CONCLUSION
Recent changes to the mix of x-ray models in use in UK breast screening have resulted in higher FFDM breast doses. DBT doses in the NHSBSP are on average higher than FFDM by ∼34%-40%.
ADVANCES IN KNOWLEDGE
This is the first national study to report DBT and FFDM MGDs in UK breast screening.
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