This study examined the effect of the scattering dose on the thyroid during a mammography examination. One hundred subjects for a mammography examination were enrolled in this study. The average glandular dose (AGD) and thyroid scattering dose (TSD) were measured. Statistical analysis was carried out using the percentage, t-test and co-variance. The mean radiation exposure to the breast and thyroid was 1.08 ± 0.16 and 0.14 ± 0.04 mGy, respectively. The percentage TSD to the AGD was 31.19%. There was no difference between the Rt. and Lt., and CC to MLO, and radiation dose to the TSD was 13.78% of the breast. Therefore, the volume of radiation exposure to the thyroid was 54.12% in a single routine mammography examination. These results suggest that the TSD was increased by increasing radiation dose to the breast. A thyroid protector is considered necessary to decrease the level of radiation exposure.
