Exploring the Radioprotective Indium (III) Oxide Screens for Mammography Scans Using a Three-Layer Heterogeneous Breast Phantom and MCNPX: A Comparative Study Using Clinical Findings

oleh: Ghada ALMisned, Wiam Elshami, Gokhan Kilic, Erkan Ilik, Elaf Rabaa, Hesham M. H. Zakaly, Antoaneta Ene, Huseyin O. Tekin

Format: Article
Diterbitkan: MDPI AG 2023-02-01

Deskripsi

<b><i>Background</i></b>: During mammography, a lead-acrylic protective screen is recommended to reduce radiation exposure to the unexposed breast. Objectives: This research study aimed to construct an Indium-(III)-oxide-rich tellurite-glass screen (TZI8) and compare its performance to that of lead acrylic. <b><i>Materials and Methods</i></b>: A three-layer heterogeneous-breast phantom was developed, using the MCNPX (version 2.7.0) Monte Carlo code. An MCNPX-simulation geometry was designed and implemented, using the lead-acrylic and TZI8 shielding screens between the right and left breast. Next, the reliability of the phantom and the variations in absorption between the lead-acrylic and TZI8 glass were investigated. <b><i>Results:</i></b> The findings show that the TZI8-protective-glass screen offers significantly greater radioprotection than the lead-acrylic material. The quantity of total dose absorbed in the unexposed breast was much lower for TZI8 than for lead-based acrylic. The TZI8-glass screen gives about 60% more radioprotection than the lead-acrylic screen. <b><i>Conclusion:</i></b> Considering the toxic lead in the structure that may be hazardous to the human tissues, the TZI8-glass screen may be used in mammography examination to provide greater radioprotection than the lead-acrylic screen, in order to greatly reduce the dose to the unexposed breast.