Radiology, Vol 133, 223-226, Copyright © 1979 by Radiological Society of North America
Magnification mammography: evaluation of screen-film and xeroradiographic techniques
AG Haus, DD Paulus, GD Dodd, RW Cowart and J Bencomo
An x-ray unit designed for conventional nonmagnification and magnification
mammography has been evaluated in terms of image quality and corresponding
radiation exposure levels. The technical advantages of the radiographic
magnification technique can result in improved image quality and reduction
of the recording-system noise. The microfocal spot allows 1.5 x
magnification mammograms with minimal geometric unsharpness. However, the
magnification technique requires an increased radiation dose to the breast,
compared to conventional nonmagnification techniques. An additional
radiation dose may be required for screen-film magnification views because
of reciprocity law failure due to long exposure times. The increased-dose
limitation and the small dimensions of the recording-system cassettes have
precluded the use of magnification in place of nonmagnified images for
routine mammographic examination. The magnification technique has proved to
be beneficial in selected cases.
