Assessment of organ-specific radiation dose reduction by integrated shielding configuration in mammography: a Monte Carlo simulation and experimental validation study

Scatter radiation to out-of-field radiosensitive organs such as the eyes, thyroid, and axilla can contribute to peripheral dose during mammography. This study evaluates an integrated shielding configuration designed to reduce such exposure. A high-density lead-glass face guard (LG-FG) and a hybrid compression paddle with stainless steel (HCSS-paddle) were modelled in MCNPX using Mo/Mo spectra at 25-35 kV under craniocaudal (CC) geometry. Simulation outputs were validated using optically stimulated luminescent dosimeters (OSLDs) and thermoluminescent dosimeter-100 (TLD-100) measurements on an anthropomorphic phantom. Both simulation and measurement showed consistent peripheral organ dose reductions of approximately ~85%-95% in the eyes, thyroid, and axilla, with modest change in compressed-breast dose (⩽10%-12%) and torso dose (⩽5%). Simulation-measurement differences remained within the predefined ±10% equivalence margin, indicating strong agreement between Monte Carlo predictions and phantom measurements.