Introduction: Breast cancer is one of the most common malignant disease in the western world amongst middle aged women. With mammography we discover diseased breast changes. Mammography is completed with two projections (images): Mediolateral-oblique (MLO) and Cranial Caudal (CC) view. For providing the quality assurance of mammographic images, correct breast positioning, is important. For the evaluation of the quality we utilize Slovene Classifications. Purpose: The purpose of the master´s degree is to discover, if a change of the basic MLO angle (45°) maximizes the amount of the breast tissue seen on image, by examining different body shapes of patients.Work methods: The research was conducted at the Institute of Oncology – Slovenian Breast Cancer Screening Program DORA. With the help of the image criterion in the Picture Archive IMPAX, three measurements were performed on mammographic images: the width of the pectoral muscle; retromammary space (fatty tissue); inframammary part (IMF) of the breast.Results: The comparison of the measured values of examined part of the breast with concave sternum, between the angle 55° and 45°, confirms that imaging at an angle 55 °captures more breast tissue. Furthermore, when using an angle 55°, more breast tissue is shown in all three measurements (the width of the pectoral muscle, the measurement of retromammary /fatty tissue and inframammary part of the breast). With the results of the MLO projection of the breast with convex sternum at an angle 35° and 45° we confirm that, by using an angle 35° we show more breast tissue in the retromammary/fatty and inframammary part, than a basic 45° angle. Whereas, an imaging of breasts at an angle 45°, shows more width of the pectoral muscle, if comparing with an angle 35°. Discussion and conclusion: With the utilization of an angle 55°, when convex sternum, a greater area (millimetres) of the breast tissue can be seen when considering all three measurements; the width of the pectoral muscle, the measurements of retromammary and inframammary part. With the alteration to an angle 35°, when concave sternum, we proved that retromammary and inframammary tissue of the breast is visible better, than at a standard angle 45°. When measuring the width of the pectoral muscle, the angle 45° gives similar results like the angle 35°. With the results of the measurements we can confirm that, when imaging in MLO projection at an angle 55°and 35° (using it on a different anatomy/body shapes of patients) we show/capture a larger part of the breast tissue.
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