The computation of scatter in mammography by Monte Carlo methods.

A Monte Carlo computer program has been used to calculate the ratio of the scatter-to-primary radiation recorded by a range of image receptors used in mammography. The dependence of this ratio on breast size and photon energy has been investigated and the contributions of different sources of scattered radiation examined. The use of magnification and grid techniques have been included in the program and the performance of the Philips mammographic grid examined in detail. The results of the calculations are in good agreement with the limited experimental data available.