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Mean glandular dose

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In mammography DG is the mean absorbed dose in the glandular tissue of the breast. Glandular tissue is the radiosensitive tissue of the breast. DG is calculated from either the incident air kerma (Ka,i) or the entrance-surface air kerma (Ka,e) used for the specific mammography examination. The conversion from Ka,i to DG is a function of beam quality (i.e. half value layer), anode material, filtration, breast thickness, and breast composition. The conversion from Ka,e to DG is a function of all these factors as well as adjustment for the backscatter factor from breast tissue. DG is also called ‘average glandular dose’ (AGD) (measured in mGy).

(ICRP Publication 135, 2017)

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