AUTHOR=ALMisned Ghada , Elshami Wiam , Rabaa Elaf , Kilic G. , Ilik E. , Sen Baykal Duygu , Ene Antoaneta , Tekin H. O. 

TITLE=Toward the strengthening of radioprotection during mammography examinations through transparent glass screens: A benchmarking between experimental and Monte Carlo simulation studies

JOURNAL=Frontiers in Public Health

VOLUME=Volume 11 - 2023

YEAR=2023

URL=https://www.frontiersin.org/journals/public-health/articles/10.3389/fpubh.2023.1171209

DOI=10.3389/fpubh.2023.1171209

ISSN=2296-2565

ABSTRACT=A lead-acrylic protective screen is suggested to reduce radiation exposure to the unexposed breast during mammography. The presence of toxic lead in its structure may harm the tissues with which it comes in contact. This study aimed to design a CdO-rich quaternary tellurite glass screen (C40) and evaluate its efficiency compared to the Lead-Acrylic. A three-layer advanced heterogeneous breast phantom designed in MCNPX. Lead acrylic and C40 shielding screens were modelled in the MCNPX and installed between the right and left breast. Then phantom's reliability and the absorption differences between the lead acrylic and C40 glass were assessed. The results showed that C40 protective glass screen has much superior protection properties compared to the lead acrylic material. The amount of total dose absorbed in the unexposed breast for C40 was found to be much less than that for lead-based acrylic. The protection provided by the C40 glass screen is 35-38 % superior to that of the Lead-Acrylic screen. The C40 offer the opportunity to avoid the toxic Pb in the structure of Lead-Acrylic material and may be utilized for mammography to offer superior radioprotection to Lead-Acrylic and significantly lower the dose amount in the unexposed breast.