The glandular dose in mammography is associated with what?

The glandular dose in mammography specifically refers to the amount of radiation absorbed by the radiosensitive cells in the breast tissue. It is a crucial metric because the primary purpose of monitoring this dose is to understand the potential biological effects of radiation exposure on breast tissue during the imaging process.

Glandular dose is usually quantified in terms of milligrays (mGy) and is significant because it provides insights into the risk of radiation-induced effects, ensuring that the radiation used is as low as reasonably achievable (ALARA principle) while still achieving adequate image quality for diagnostic purposes. Since breast tissue is particularly sensitive to radiation, managing this dose is vital for patient safety.

Understanding the glandular dose allows professionals to optimize imaging techniques and equipment settings, aiming to minimize exposure while maximizing diagnostic benefits. This concept is central to the practice of mammography and highlights the importance of radiation safety standards in medical imaging.