Introduction: Due to the increased number of mammographies, especially after introduction of organized and systematic early detection of breast cancer (screening) in Slovenia, we should pay more attention to the exposure of patients. Patients’ exposure can also be influenced by proper protection with personal protective equipment (PPE). Based on the new findings of International Commission of Radiation Protection (ICRP), the most radio-sensible organs with tissue weighting factor 0.12 are large intestine, lungs, bone marrow, stomach, and breasts. Purpose: With the research, we want to establish whether and for how much the dose of ionising radiation on large intestine and lungs in classical mammography and additional breast imaging with enlargement is decreased if lead gonadal shields are placed to the lung basis instead of usually used placement in the height of the pelvis. Methods: For the master’s thesis, we used a descriptive and experimental research method. First, the measurements were carried out in PBU 60 phantom. We used electronic dosimeter to measure a dose of ionising radiation on large intestine and lungs. The second part of the survey included patients who were sent to the mammographic breast imaging to the Adolf Drolc Health Centre in Maribor. In these patients, we measured the dose received by lungs and large intestine during mammography in a comparable way, the same as in phantom. Results and discussion: In breast imaging, use of PPE proved to be extremely effective in protecting lungs and large intestine in basic projections, as well as in enlargement. In phantom, the dose to lungs in CC projection was reduced by approximately 99%, and in MLO projection by 89%, using PPE. In imaging with enlargement, the dose to lungs in the basic CC projection was reduced by 93%. Also the dose to large intestine was decreased, namely in the CC and MLO projection and in enlargement by approximately 93%. In patients, almost the same results as in phantom were detected. Conclusion: In regard to the obtained results, I confirm that dose to the lungs and large intestine during breast imaging using PPE was significantly decreased in both basic projections and enlargement. Despite small doses received by these organs in imaging, we can additionally reduce them by using PPE without affecting the quality of mammographic images
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