The absorbed dose in mammography is typically _________ the entrance skin exposure (ESE).

In mammography, the absorbed dose refers to the amount of radiation energy that is actually absorbed by breast tissue. The entrance skin exposure (ESE), on the other hand, measures the radiation dose received by the skin at the point where the X-ray beam enters the body.

The absorbed dose is significantly lower than the entrance skin exposure due to several factors, including tissue attenuation and the distribution of radiation within the breast. As the X-rays penetrate the breast tissue, some energy is absorbed and scattered, leading to a lower dose being absorbed by the tissue compared to the amount measured at the skin's surface.

This relationship is crucial for understanding radiation safety in mammography. It helps radiologic technologists and radiologists assess the risk associated with breast imaging while ensuring that high-quality images are obtained. Knowing that the absorbed dose is lower than the ESE also underlines the importance of optimizing mammographic techniques to minimize patient exposure while still achieving adequate image quality.