[Radiation protection in mammography].

According to the generally held view, objections in terms of radiation hygiene are less important in individually indicated mammographic investigations. Radiation protection in mammography is restricted to the carcinogenic side effect of radiation exposure in mass screening of asymptomatic women. A dose-proportional carcinogenic side effect independent of the dose distribution in time is also to be assumed in the small dose range. The International Radiation Protection Commission therefore requires a cost-benefit analysis to including costs for all mass X-ray examinations. It is indispensable to consider each age group separately in order to arrive at a rational and medically acceptable result. Cost/benefit analyses integrated over all age groups obscure important decision indicators with their positive results throughout. In a differentiated consideration, one arrives at a minimum age of entry for participation of asymptomatic women in regular mass screening. This depends on the dose requirement of the system used. The available recommendations tend to be restrictive in the case of relatively high dose requirement, and can be interpreted more extensively in the case of lower dose requirement. Inclusion of younger age groups with very low incidence which is possible in terms of risk criteria after a major lowering of the dose requirement leads to a low specific benefit and high specific costs, i.e. to a poor cost/benefit relation. Objections to the cost/benefit analyses undertaken could be shown to be based on the neglect of an age-differentiated consideration, one-sided selection of material, selective interpretation of the literature, inadmissible generalizations, the highlighting of relatively implausible assumptions, fundamental errors and argumentations colored by professional interest.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)