What is the maximum dose allowed per exposure?

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In mammography, there is a safety goal to keep the radiation dose per exposure small while still getting a quality image. The commonly cited upper bound for a single projection is about 3 mGy. This keeps the dose low enough to minimize risk to breast tissue but high enough to produce the contrast needed to detect features like microcalcifications and masses. Modern systems and good technique (including proper compression) can achieve diagnostic-quality images at doses around 1–2 mGy per view, so a limit near 3 mGy reflects a balanced, practical threshold. Values like 0.3 mGy are typically too low to yield reliable diagnostic detail, while 30 mGy or 300 mGy would unnecessarily increase radiation exposure without improving image quality.