Analysis of patient breast dose from a mammographic biopsy unit.

Further assessment of suspicious lesions found during asymptomatic breast cancer screening is critical and involves mammographic follow up with biopsy. The X-ray procedure is complex and variable in nature and until now there is little information on the radiation dose to the breast or associated risks. A survey of radiation doses from a Siemens MammoTest prone biopsy with the support of a Sectra L30 AIR mammographic unit for workup and post clip images has been completed. Procedure details and outcomes, including radiographic and patient related variables have been collected and analysed using standard dosimetric formulation. The partial irradiation of the breast in biopsy and magnification views was considered. The average mean glandular breast dose was 5.13 mGy, comprising of 3.52 mGy from the biopsy procedure and 1.61 mGy from the workup and post clip images, with an average of 8.4 biopsy images and 5.8 workup and post clip images. The risk from these dose levels are dependent on the age of the woman, however are not considered high for a symptomatic X-ray procedure.