Radiology, Vol 123, 63-68, Copyright © 1977 by Radiological Society of North America
Single view negative mode xeromammography: an approach to reduce radiation exposure in breast cancer screening
JB Buchanan and RM Jager
With the increasing use of xeromammography in mass screening for breast
cancer, the potential risk to women from repeated exposure to low energy
ionizing radiation must be weighed against the benefit of early detection
of breast cancer. Although xeromammography allows detection of 80-90% of
breast cancers before metastases occur, the radiation hazard from repeated
xeromammographic screening must be considered and attempts made to reduce
radiation exposure. The dose from xeromammography can be reduced by greater
than one half with the single mediolateral view, negative mode imaging
technique. Moreover, no reduction of diagnostic accuracy of xeromammography
in early detection of breast cancer was found with this technique.
