What aspect of breast composition may influence radiation dose during mammography?

The influence of breast composition on radiation dose during mammography primarily hinges on the ratio of fatty tissue to glandular tissue in the breast. In general, breast tissue can be classified into two main types: fatty tissue, which is less dense and allows X-rays to pass through more easily, and glandular tissue, which is denser and attenuates X-rays more.

When the breast contains a higher ratio of fatty tissue, it is less likely to absorb the X-rays, resulting in lower radiation exposure needed to capture diagnostic images. Conversely, a higher ratio of glandular tissue increases the radiation dose because more exposure is required to penetrate this denser tissue. Therefore, understanding the composition of breast tissue is critical for radiologists and technologists as they optimize imaging techniques to minimize radiation dose while ensuring image quality for accurate diagnoses.

Other factors like bone density, skin texture, and previous surgeries do not have the same direct impact on the radiation dose received during the imaging process compared to the fatty tissue ratio. Bone density primarily influences the X-ray attenuation in areas with bone structure (like the chest wall), while skin texture has minimal relevance in radiation absorption. Previous surgeries may alter breast tissue but do not consistently affect the general principles of radiation dose related to composition