Which age group is likely to receive the highest radiation dose during mammography?

The highest radiation dose during mammography is typically associated with younger age groups, particularly those in the 20-35 years range. This is primarily due to several factors. Younger women tend to have denser breast tissue, which requires higher exposure settings to capture clear images. Denser breast tissue absorbs more radiation, leading to higher doses during the imaging process.

Additionally, in younger patients, there is often a need for more imaging views or additional follow-up imaging due to the complexity of differentiating between benign and potentially malignant lesions. The cumulative exposure and the higher likelihood of requiring further diagnostic imaging contribute to the increased radiation dose experienced by this age group.

In older age groups, such as those between 40-60 years, breast tissue generally becomes less dense, which can result in lower radiation doses during the mammography process. Therefore, the characteristics of breast tissue and the specific imaging requirements for younger patients are key factors in why the 20-35 age group is likely to receive the highest radiation dose during mammography.