MAMMOGRAPHY EXAM SCRIPT
COMPREHENSIVE STUDY GUIDE
●● what is the typical mA selections in mammography
Answer: 20-100 mA
●● T/F mA stations are fixed in mammography
Answer: True, because the focal spots are so small that the anode could
get burnt out if mA is too high
●● typical time is ___ to over __ sec
Answer: 0.4; 1 sec
●● mammography equipment uses what 3 target materials
Answer: -molybdenum (Mo)
-rhodium (Rh)
-tungsten (W)
●● some mammo units have ____ material targets (anodes)
Answer: dual
●● systems will choose the target that is best for _____ & _____
,Answer: tissue type; thickness
●● filter material is inserted into the x-ray beam to _____ _____
Answer: enhance contrast
●● filters are most often made of what (4) types of material
Answer: -molybdenum (Mo)
-rhodium (Rh)
-aluminum (Al)
-silver (Ag)
●● in mammography what are the 2 types of filtration
Answer: inherent & added
●● what is inherent filtration and what does it include
Answer: composed of parts of the X-ray tube and tube housing and
include: exit window of tube (made of beryllium), oil in the tube, mirror
assembly, compression plate
●● what is added filtration
Answer: any filtration that occurs outside the tube and housing before
the image receptor, usually made of molybdenum, rhodium, aluminum
, ●● what are the 2 important roles of added filtration
Answer: remove soft energy photons which add dose & slow down
higher energy photons which reduce contrast
●● what is the actual focal spot
Answer: the physical area of the focal track that is impacted by electrons
●● What is the effective focal spot?
Answer: the area of the focal spot that is projected out of the tube toward
the object being radiographed
●● the steeper the angle the ____ the effective focal spot and the better
the detail
Answer: smaller
●● how many focal spots does a mammography tube have
Answer: 2
●● The large focal spot measures _____ mm and is used for _____
imaging
Answer: 0.3 mm; standard imaging
COMPREHENSIVE STUDY GUIDE
●● what is the typical mA selections in mammography
Answer: 20-100 mA
●● T/F mA stations are fixed in mammography
Answer: True, because the focal spots are so small that the anode could
get burnt out if mA is too high
●● typical time is ___ to over __ sec
Answer: 0.4; 1 sec
●● mammography equipment uses what 3 target materials
Answer: -molybdenum (Mo)
-rhodium (Rh)
-tungsten (W)
●● some mammo units have ____ material targets (anodes)
Answer: dual
●● systems will choose the target that is best for _____ & _____
,Answer: tissue type; thickness
●● filter material is inserted into the x-ray beam to _____ _____
Answer: enhance contrast
●● filters are most often made of what (4) types of material
Answer: -molybdenum (Mo)
-rhodium (Rh)
-aluminum (Al)
-silver (Ag)
●● in mammography what are the 2 types of filtration
Answer: inherent & added
●● what is inherent filtration and what does it include
Answer: composed of parts of the X-ray tube and tube housing and
include: exit window of tube (made of beryllium), oil in the tube, mirror
assembly, compression plate
●● what is added filtration
Answer: any filtration that occurs outside the tube and housing before
the image receptor, usually made of molybdenum, rhodium, aluminum
, ●● what are the 2 important roles of added filtration
Answer: remove soft energy photons which add dose & slow down
higher energy photons which reduce contrast
●● what is the actual focal spot
Answer: the physical area of the focal track that is impacted by electrons
●● What is the effective focal spot?
Answer: the area of the focal spot that is projected out of the tube toward
the object being radiographed
●● the steeper the angle the ____ the effective focal spot and the better
the detail
Answer: smaller
●● how many focal spots does a mammography tube have
Answer: 2
●● The large focal spot measures _____ mm and is used for _____
imaging
Answer: 0.3 mm; standard imaging
