Radiation Dose Reduction with an Eye and Thyroid Shielding Device During Mammography

Abstract

Purpose: This study aimed to develop a shielding device to minimize radiation exposure to radiosensitive organs, specifically the eye lens and thyroid gland, during mammography and to assess its effectiveness.  Methods: To enhance the shielding efficiency of the conventional face guard and compression paddle used in mammography, a novel shielding device was developed. This device incorporated a lead glass face guard and a stainless-steel shielding cover attached to the compression paddle. The shielding device was designed using 3D modeling and mold fabrication techniques. Experimental evaluations were conducted using an ATOM dosimetry phantom under conditions simulating a clinical environment. Spatial dose measurements were obtained using an ion chamber to compare radiation exposure with and without the application of the shielding device. Additionally, surface dose measurements were performed at five designated locations using thermoluminescent dosimeters (TLDs) to quantify radiation dose reduction with and without the shielding device.Results: After applying the eye and thyroid shielding device, there was a significant reduction in the spatial dose at the eye lens and thyroid regions, confirming a clinically meaningful decrease in radiation exposure. Notably, compared to the existing face guard, the lead glass face guard demonstrated superior attenuation properties, significantly lowering the surface dose to the eye lens. Furthermore, the addition of a stainless-steel shielding cover to the compression paddle effectively decreased surface dose levels, providing enhanced thyroid protection.Conclusion: The eye and thyroid shielding device developed in this study can effectively mitigate radiation exposure to the radiosensitive eye lens and thyroid gland during mammography. Therefore, this shielding device is expected to play a crucial role in optimizing patient radiation protection and contributing to a safer mammographic imaging environment

Note:
Funding declaration: The authors declare that no funding was received for conducting this study

Conflict of Interests: The authors declare that they have no known competing financial interests or personal relationships that could have appeared to influence the work reported in this paper.

Keywords: lead glass face guard, compression paddle cover, eye lens protection, thyroid protection, mammography shielding devices, eye thyroid shielding device