BJR
HOME HELP FEEDBACK SUBSCRIPTIONS ARCHIVE SEARCH TABLE OF CONTENTS
British Journal of Radiology (1989) 62, 910-914
© 1989 British Institute of Radiology
doi:
Services
Right arrow Similar articles in this journal
Right arrow Similar articles in PubMed
Right arrow Alert me to new issues of the journal
Right arrow Download to citation manager
Right arrow reprints & permissions
Citing Articles
Right arrow Citing Articles via HighWire
Right arrow Citing Articles via Google Scholar
Google Scholar
Right arrow Articles by Brenner, D. J.
Right arrow Articles by Amols, H. I.
Right arrow Search for Related Content
PubMed
Right arrow PubMed Citation
Right arrow Articles by Brenner, D. J.
Right arrow Articles by Amols, H. I.

The British Journal of Radiology, Vol 62, Issue 742 910-914, Copyright © 1989 by British Institute of Radiology

ARTICLES

Enhanced risk from low-energy screen--film mammography X rays

DJ Brenner and HI Amols
Radiological Research Laboratories, College of Physicians and Surgeon Columbia University, New York, NY 10032.

Modern screen-film mammography with molybdenum-anode X rays results in tissue doses being delivered primarily by photons with an energy of less than 20 keV. Such photons interact with tissue predominantly through the photoelectric effect, producing low-energy electrons that have different patterns of energy deposition at the cellular level compared with those from higher-energy X rays. These differences result in low doses of typical molybdenum-based mammography X rays having an estimated radiobiological effectiveness of approximately 1.3 compared with 80 kVp or 250 kVp X rays, and approximately 2 compared with higher-energy gamma rays. Thus the risk from mammography could be higher, by such factors, than previously estimated. This would result in the optimal age for beginning mammographic screening, derived from risk-benefit ratios, being increased by at least 1-2 years and possibly by as many as 10 years.


This article has been cited by other articles:


Home page
 JOURNAL OF THE ICRUHome page
REFERENCES
J. ICRU, December 1, 2005; 5(2): 103 - 113.
[Full Text] [PDF]

Home page
 Radiat Prot DosimetryHome page
M. A. Hill
The variation in biological effectiveness of X-rays and gamma rays with energy
Radiat Prot Dosimetry, December 15, 2004; 112(4): 471 - 481.
[Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]

Home page
 Radiat Prot DosimetryHome page
J. E. Pattison, L. C. Payne, R. P. Hugtenburg, A. H. Beddoe, and M. W. Charles
Experimental simulation of A-bomb gamma ray spectra: revisited
Radiat Prot Dosimetry, July 1, 2004; 109(3): 175 - 180.
[Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]

Home page
 Br. J. Radiol.Home page
J R Beckett, C J Kotre, and J S Michaelson
Analysis of benefit:risk ratio and mortality reduction for the UK Breast Screening Programme
Br. J. Radiol., May 1, 2003; 76(905): 309 - 320.
[Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]


HOME HELP FEEDBACK SUBSCRIPTIONS ARCHIVE SEARCH TABLE OF CONTENTS
BJR DMFR IMAGING  ALL BIR JOURNALS 
Copyright © 1989 by the British Institute of Radiology.