The determination of breast dose and cancer risk at any age of exposure, are significant information about radiation safety in repetitive full spine radiography. A phantom study was performed to assess the impact of technical parameters and to evaluate the optimal of subjective image quality.

Full-spine radiographs of a humanoid Alderson Rando® phantom were acquired with a Philips DigitalDiagnost 2.1 system.

We started by investigating the standard protocol anterior-posterior view (AP) using the technique by automatic exposure control (AEC), the firstly experiment was performed with and without protection of the gonad

(Figure 1). Secondly, we changed only the x-ray projection angle related to the phantom by choosing the posterior–anterior view (PA).

Finally, we got images without automatic exposure control using an optimal view PA full spine protocol having the lowest dose (85 kV, 15.8 mAs, 0.2 mm Cu filter, SID 200 cm, with grid) (Figure 2).  These experiments were carried out to find the dose area product (DAP) of each image, and equivalent dose (HT) to the breast (mSv) was assessed quantitatively through thermoluminescent dosimeter (TLD) on left breast (Figure 3). The radiographs were assessed on six criteria, as described in Table I, (minimal 1 and maximal 5 points per criteria) by four radiologists, who were blinded to patient identity and clinical information and the score compared to among them. Statistical analysis included independent samples t test.